Rose Jang is an acclaimed Korean-American pop opera singer who is well known for singing operatic arias, musical and classic pop songs (3.5 octave range to high F). She is the first Korean to release an album comprising operatic arias as well as hit musical songs. She has 6 CD albums, one live concert DVD and many singles including the recent Nella Fantasia. Jang is PR ambassador for many organizations including the Korean Tourism Office and UNESCO of Korea. She recently became PR ambassador for the National Committee for Jeju-do Island one of the world's New7Wonders of Nature. She performed with the Rose Pops Orchestra at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Alice Tully Hall on November 9, 2011 to promote Jeju Island as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's blessing for a great show. She currently records in New York City, Seoul, and London.
Jang has been hailed as a heroine for Korean-Americans. Jang has been credited for one of the reasons why Jeju Island was voted to be a New 7 Wonder of Nature. She promoted Jeju Island heavily as she campaigned the New 7 Wonders of Nature with her Lincoln Center concert. The concert was promoted on Yahoo, The Wall Street Journal, Marketwatch, ABC-TV, New York Daily News, and Reuters.
Early life
Jang was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. She is the daughter of Daniel Jang who has a doctorate from Princeton University and is also a graduate of Kyunggi High School and Seoul National University. Her mother, Carolyn Bok Jang, immigrated to New York City from South Korea and worked for world-renowned painter Salvatore Dali and was a model for Ford Models. Her grandfather, Dr. Young-Chul Jang was a president of Choongbuk National University. At the young age of four, Rose was admitted into The Manhattan School of Music's children's program. There, she received lessons in music for the piano, violin and voice. She also served as concertmaster for her Bridgewater-Raritan High School. The high school's symphony orchestra consisted of 120 members. She performed the violin as part of the New Jersey Youth Symphony. She performed with the New Jersey Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall at the age of 17. She is a graduate of Smith College. She has also studied at Goldsmiths College in London. Jang is a member of the Princeton Korean Church which is a Christian Presbyterian Church located in Princeton, New Jersey. She is fluent in English, Korean, and French.
Awards and achievements
Jang has won a number of awards for her accomplishments in music including the award for "Outstanding Vocalist" in the "Classical" category at the South Korean Entertainment Awards. Awards were given to sixty of Korea's leading music, film, and performing arts icons. Jang was also awarded "Most Successful Artist" of 2009 at the Seoul Success Awards. She received the "special" award at Asia's largest music festival "The Asia Song Festival". Jang has performed at major events including the inaugural ceremony of South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and an event celebrating U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. She also has performed at Pridefest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she performed alongside legendary R&B vocalist Patti LaBelle who said that Rose has "an absolutely beautiful voice and is an amazing performer.
Jang reached number one on the domestic and international music charts with her performance of the song "Memory" from the Cats (musical) topping versions by both Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand.
Jang has broken the record for most weeks at #1 on the Korean classical chart with her rendition of "You Raise Me Up" from the "Songs of Hope" series.
Jang in 2008 performed at the inauguration of former South Korean president Lee-Myung Bak.
In June 2010 Jang was chosen as one of Korea's "10 Most Shining Stars" by Arirang Television Network. Arirang (TV network), a popular network in Asia, aired a documentary of her life in music that was broadcast in 170 countries around the world reaching an audience of 150 million people. The documentary Koreans on the World Stage aired on December 29, 2012. Jang was also featured on Korea's SBS hit TV show Star King where she performed as a "Special Guest."
Jang is a former spokes-model for Lancome cosmetics and was featured in Elle, Vogue, and Marie Claire magazines.
In September 2012, Rose was featured in Korea's Cosmopolitan Magazine as the "10 Most Powerful Korean Women in New York."