José Rosado
Principal Organist
Since the beginning of his church music career around the year 2000, José has played countless services, weddings, funerals, and recitals in many churches spanning a total of nine denominations. This has taken him far and wide across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
José's love for sacred and liturgical music is deeply rooted in the Lutheran tradition of robust congregational singing and the great Anglican / Episcopal tradition of choral music and chant. This has greatly influenced his approach to solo organ playing and accompanying. It even helped him discover a love for singing. He now enjoys singing a wide variety of styles, from ancient to modern. Since 2011, he has enjoyed the great honor of singing with the renowned choir St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Evanston for Advent Lessons and Carols, Evensong, and choral concerts by invitation of Choirmaster, Andrew Lewis.
José was born and raised in Chicago, and is of mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage. His love for classical music, the piano and the organ, was evident at a young age. At age 11, he and his mother attended Easter mass with some members of the Roman Catholic side of the family. José knew well that this would be a rare opportunity to finally see and hear a pipe organ in person. Upon entering the church he eagerly climbed the stairs to the organ loft and marveled as he watched the organist’s hands and feet play upon the keys and pedals. From that moment on, he knew what he had been called to do. After mass, as they exited the church, he said to his mother, "Yo voy a tocar uno de esos cuando yo sea grande." / "I'm going to play one of those when I grow up."
José began private piano studies at age 13 and soon discovered a knack for playing by ear. His quest for knowledge was further aided by general music classes in high school. At age 16 he met Dr. Louis Playford, then Music Director at Christ Lutheran Church and later Second Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Dr. Playford was impressed by the knowledge that José had attained in such a short period of time and was so moved by his enthusiasm and interest in the organ, that he took it upon himself to teach him organ technique and hymn playing for about two years.
José currently works full time for the aerospace division of Woodward Inc. Aside from his passion for sacred music, he enjoys cooking, learning about cuisines from around the world, architecture, science, history, languages and cultures.