About
Quite Possibly, These Two Canadian Musicians Are One Of North America’s Best Kept Secrets, The Next Big Thing…
A Pianist and Violinist who bring Hollywood’s beloved cinematic instrumental songs to your concert stage. Your favorites from yesterday and today. The Bogart and Bacall of Hollywood’s soundtrack virtuosos.
They are Roy & Rosemary who first met while accompanying The Canadian Tenors, now The Tenors.
Roy & Rosemary are equally comfortable with classical and pop music and their diverse talents and improvisational skills have led to numerous performance opportunities, including three different performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall, one of which debuted a combined hip-hop and classical concert; a performance as the first ever instrumentalist at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican; entertaining at numerous private events, including for Donald Trump at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach; performing at the Egyptian Consulate in Washington DC, performing at two concerts at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics; as well as the Beijing Summer Olympics, and even opening Hockey Night in Canada.
In November of 2012, the duo released their debut piano and violin fusion album “Once Upon a Dream“, featuring some original works along with many familiar and beloved tunes fully orchestrated and realized in a way that is traditional, yet fresh and exciting.
In addition to being adept at on-the-spot improvisations in various styles of music, the duo are blessed with the special talent of perfect pitch. This has been an incredible gift to both of them, further allowing them to be musically in sync with each other on and off stage.
A very unique part of their show is doing requests from the audience, often even learning and arranging unfamiliar tunes instantly, inviting the audience in to be a part of the show and a key ingredient in the creative process. Their talents do not end there however. They will keep you wanting more when you hear either or sometimes both of them taking up a microphone and serenading you with their voices.
They have appeared on “Entertainment Tonight,” “Canada AM,” “Breakfast Television,” “Urban Rush,” and on a live television broadcast in New York. Other notable performances include the Miss America Gala in Las Vegas and the 25th Anniversary of Children’s Miracle Network at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Roy and Rosemary’s love for music has given them the privilege of performing throughout North America, China, Korea, Japan, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout continental Europe.
These instrumental recording artists have joined forces to create one of the most dynamic musical duos in recent memory.
who are they…how did they meet?
Known for their versatility, passion, musicianship, and style, pianist Roy Tan and violinist Rosemary Siemens first met while accompanying The Canadian Tenors, now The Tenors.
a work ethic with impressive results…
Carefully crafting their skills, patiently building momentum, and diligently paying their dues, they have been touring all across North America the last eight years. Individually and together, they have touched down in New York, Beijing, Florida, and Rome, and have collaborated with notable artists such as The Canadian Tenors (aka The Tenors), Mary Zilba (The Real Housewives of Vancouver), Ian Prince (Grammy Award-winning producer), media and mining mogul Frank Giustra (Lionsgate Entertainment), Marie Osmond & John Schneider (Children’s Miracle Network) and former USA President, Jimmy Carter.
their unquestionable uniqueness…
From the stages of Carnegie Hall to Walt Disney World Florida, Roy & Rosemary have been capturing the hearts of audiences with their fresh musical arrangements, their technical virtuosity, their endearing on-stage presence, and their ability to invite their audience into the music-making process.
This is exactly what makes them unique, and though their musical roots began in classical training, their style expands beyond the limits of any single genre.
In their words, “What makes us unique is the strength of our flexibility while maintaining a strong musical identity. Many people instantly think classical when they hear ‘piano and violin duo’, and to an extent they are right, we’re both trained extensively in the classical manner, but we also grew up playing and improvising in the church among other venues, and that is expressed in our sound.”
home, an early start, and a very special gift…
Now based in Vancouver, Canada, Roy & Rosemary originally came from very diverse backgrounds, Roy from Singapore, and Rosemary from a Mennonite farm in Plum Coulee, Manitoba, Canada. Although from opposite sides of the world, they had similarities which would shape them into becoming the musicians they are today. They each started their instruments at the age of three and they both discovered they had the special gift of perfect pitch, which continues to be an incredible asset.
why they love working together…
“We enjoy working together tremendously. We have a lot of the same ideas and often feel like we can read each other’s minds while playing. It is hard to find another musician that you can have this sort of connection with.”
their album producer…his vision
But lucky for them, this is exactly the kind of connection that struck again, but this time with Vancouver-based multi-award winning, Grammy-nominated producer, Daryl Bennett. In November 2012, this creative relationship launched them into the release of their debut pop-instrumental album, ‘Once Upon a Dream’ which is available on iTunes and stores across Canada. It features lush and heart-wrenching arrangements of original works along with many familiar and beloved tunes like ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, ‘Moon River’, and ‘Hallelujah’.
Roy & Rosemary credit Daryl Bennett saying, “This album wouldn’t have been what it is without the amazing talents of Daryl, who saw the vision of what the album could be and went with it. Working on this album was possibly the most positive and uplifting experience either of us have ever had in studio. He’s now become like family to us.”
they are genuine…others want to team up
That same connected feeling is what audience members experience, what fellow collaborating artists express, and what business associates love about Roy & Rosemary. Their team is growing. Roy & Rosemary have a special relationship with Vancouver’s luxury piano dealer Showcase Pianos (www.showcasepianos.com), and world renowned Italian piano maker Fazioli Pianos (the duo’s instrument of choice), who recently invited them to perform in a private performance for its founder, Mr. Paulo Fazioli.
orchestral arrangers for esteemed studio projects
Roy & Rosemary are also often sought after as arrangers, orchestrators (including full string productions) and artistic consultants, most recently arranging and recording a single with Mary Zilba (from “The Real Housewives of Vancouver”) for a film written and produced by media and mining mogul, Frank Giustra (Lionsgate Entertainment). Most recently they worked with Grammy-winning producer Ian Prince, and five time Juno award winning producer, Sam Reid from Glass Tiger.
They are truly grateful for the growing team and are thankful for each opportunity.
world travel & celebrity appearances…
This duo has already performed in a diverse number of venues ranging from intimate house concerts, to a number of concerts at New York’s famed ‘Carnegie Hall’, a performance as the first ever instrumentalist at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican; at the Egyptian Consulate in Washington DC; at the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas, entertaining at numerous private events, including for Donald Trump at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach; as well as performances at the 2008 Beijing and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics; and even opening Hockey Night in Canada.
a symphony of sound…
It is this work ethic, this pursuit of excellence that keeps them running forward.
It is their love for what they do that keeps them setting the bar higher and higher.
Roy says, “One of the things we love to do is to arrange music; that way we can express our interpretations more exactly. The scoring (of their debut album) is all new… I wrote all of the orchestral scores and Rosemary painstakingly recorded virtually all of the string parts 10-12 times to emulate the sound of a full symphony orchestra.”
That full symphony sound is just the beginning of where they see things going. More on that later though. Now turning to their live show…
on-stage performing…a tightrope walk
For Roy & Rosemary it’s the thrill of the on-stage journey, but they don’t always know where it will lead each night…
“We put ourselves on the line while on stage, taking requests and composing pieces for people on the spot. We invite the audience into the creative process, which is extremely exciting, personal and interactive. We want the listener to feel as if he/she is a part of the show, a part of the creative process, and if we have taken them on a musical journey, even for a moment, then we consider ourselves successful.”
admiration for one another…
That measure of success is rooted in Roy and Rosemary’s genuine appreciation and respect for each other’s talents. It is a natural outflow of being in sync with each other on and off the stage. And it’s certainly what makes them so endearing to their audiences, why they light up the crowds.
stunning looks and on-stage presence…
Lit up they are, and while Matinee idol looks and female beauty aren’t everything, in the entertainment biz, it doesn’t hurt if you have them.
Roy cuts a tall and handsome figure, charming things up with tidbits of light-humored conversation, while Rosemary has a natural beauty and elegance, a mesmerizing gracefulness about her. Her stage presence and banter is fun and energetic. Her laugh is most definitely infectious. And her fashion sense comes from a line of three generations, so she comes by it honestly. Quite simply, Rosemary’s clothes emulate the beauty, dream-like nature and cinematic flair of the duo’s music.
technically and emotionally engaging…
Dressed the part for certain, and musically inspiring without question. Their technical virtuosity with their instruments is obvious, and seeing them getting lost in the music, relating to their instruments is so captivating. Roy uses his whole being, commanding the piano to release it’s full broad range of colors that vary from epic to exquisitely intimate. Rosemary evokes tremendous emotion from her violin, sweeping lines with a warm, rich sonorous sound, coloring with different kinds and speeds of vibrato. Together they fuse their sound seamlessly.
They are a class act, period.
their world-class training…
Trained by renowned pianist, Robert Silverman and renowned violinist, Robert Rozek, they have been shaped and molded by some of the best musicians of the day. Roy & Rosemary both earned their Bachelor of Arts Music degrees at the University of British Columbia (Canada) and Rosemary went on to complete her Masters of Music in Violin Performance at the University of Miami. They are both the recipients of numerous awards and most recently, Rosemary was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) by the Government of Canada, honoring her for her significant contributions and achievements.
their superb natural talent…
Roy is a musical genius, hears a full orchestra in his head and has assigned colors to all the musical keys signatures. With a lightening fast musical memory for learning new songs, Rosemary fondly jokes by calling him the ‘royPod.’ She too has an affinity for picking up melodies and harmonies very quickly, on-the-spot. Bridging genius with heart, Roy can be seen grinning from the piano whenever the audience reacts to Rosemary’s wardrobe changes. She brings so much glitter and bedazzle to the stage she can’t help but light it up with her irresistible style, her infectious laugh, and her shimmering heels.
their passion for writing songs…
It’s obvious they team up well on the stage and in the studio, and while the artist life can be hectic, traveling from here to there, they sure look forward to finding time to write more of their own songs on their next album. To capture a flavor of their songs, you can enjoy their compositional talents by listening to Rosemary’s “Plum Coulee” and Roy’s “Ode” on their debut album, ‘Once Upon a Dream.’ Again, available on iTunes.
the future…their cinematic symphony tour
And at last, a sneak peak into the big symphony plans referenced earlier. The next venture for Roy & Rosemary is to take their show on a North American tour, featuring beloved cinematic songs accompanied by movie projections in the background to create a soundtrack with visuals to enhance the musical journey. The tour will include notable special guests and be accompanied by their very own orchestra in beautiful Roy & Rosemary signature attire, which if it’s up to Rosemary, will undoubtedly be rife with sparkles.
We were the recipients of tickets to see Roy and Rosemary last night in Winkler, Manitoba. We were amazed and dazzled by their talent, professionalism and passion. Thanks for the joyful Christmas music with the new arrangements of familiar favourites.
As a child, I spent my summer holidays in Plum Coulee, so I know exactly where Rosemary grew up!
Thanks for sharing your talents. May you continue to do so well into the future.
Could you retell the story of how Rosemary got her Violin???
I absolutely adore them, and they rank at the top of my bucket list of things to do before I die. God bless them and their music.
Thank you so much Gary, you are too kind =)
– Roy
All i can say Roy & Rosemary i love your music more and more.
My day is not complete if didnt hear at leasy one song of your.
I would love to get hold off all your music
Well done
Maryna De Ridder
Thank you so much Maryna, we really appreciate your visit and your kind comment. Our music can be found on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
https://itun.es/us/pMCbib
http://amzn.to/2sB1aHV
http://spoti.fi/2tZj0Ch
Enjoy and hope to see you in our show someday.
Roy
I was lucky to see your concert in Williston ND 11/7/17. Thank you for a wonderful performance. I enjoyed all, but most your improvisations with each other. I always look to see if performers are enjoying what they do,or just showing up for the paycheck. You two definately passed that test. Our whole family enjoyed the concert, my ten year old showed it and our fourteen year old…was being fourteen, so she may not have said but the enjoyment was clear. Wishing you both the best. Hope you missed the snow on the way to Minneapolis. I truly hope your collaberation long endures. Best wishes, Dan
Love! Love! your music, my husband introduce me to it when he found your music on You Tube so that any chance I have I listened to it especially Hallelujah which was the first I heard. I would love to attend your concert and hope one day you can make it to the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, Texas and will definitely attend your concert. May God Bless you both.
I have just listened for the first time your beautiful music on YouTube. It seems to make the world a better place with your music. Thank you.
Good luck with your journey.
Xx Geraldine,
Canberra, Australia
Gosh, you 2 sure are a well kept secret. We are seniors from Kelowna BC wintering in Puerto Vallarta. Our good friend Vanessa is a Mexican classically trained opera singer. Have you ever thought of a trio? You would be amazing. She recently performed with David of the Victoria Bach Ensemble he founded 13 years ago. He accompanied her on the picolo-trumpet and they brought down the standing room only concert at the famous Our Lady of Gaudalupe Cathedral in PV. She does an amazing rendition in English and Spanish of LC ‘s Hallelujah. Check her out at
http://www.vanessa-amaro. com
On second thought, the 4 of you would result in a fantastic concert tour, featuring a variety of classical selections and some English Broadway tunes. Try to keep them all happy!!!
I know you are very busy but would love to hear from you.
Your music is beautiful. How may I get the CD Once Upon a Dream? It is not in music stores.
Sherrie Kwan
kwansher@telus.net
I love the feeling I get listening to their amazing talent. I am chronically I’ll and their music is the best medicine, I just close the pain off. Thank you for all your work and giving so much pleasure.