Rose Rydberg

Biography

Rose Rydberg is a conductor, educator, and violinist whose lifelong connection to the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras helped inspire her career in music education. Since 2008, she has dedicated her career to music education in Omaha Public Schools and currently serves as Orchestra Director at Central High School.  

She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she studied with Ruth Meints and Judy Wise. In recognition of her dedication to students and excellence in teaching, Rose received the Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award in 2018.  

An active member of the American String Teachers Association, Nebraska Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education, Rose is committed to supporting music education and creating meaningful opportunities for students. She has served in leadership roles including Music Department Head and Professional Learning Communities Lead and is passionate about supporting and mentoring early-career music educators. As a clinician, she has presented at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference and served as a guest conductor for the Council Bluffs All-City Music Festival and the Omaha Public Schools All-City Music Festival. She also regularly serves as a clinician and adjudicator for solo, small ensemble, and large ensemble festivals throughout the region. 

 Her involvement with the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras spans decades: first as a student in Elementary Strings, Honors Orchestra, Youth Philharmonic, and Youth Symphony. Later, as a conductor and coach, she served as Elementary Strings Conductor in 2009, Honors Orchestra Conductor in 2017, sectional and chamber music coach, and was appointed Youth Concert Strings Conductor in 2025. 

Outside the classroom, Rose remains an active performer and currently plays violin with the Metropolitan String Quartet. 

Rose is honored to continue giving back to the organization that played such an important role in her own musical development and enjoys sharing her love of music with her husband, Daniel, and their two children, Alex and Elowyn.