Jean Rohe

Jean Rohe was born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1984. As a youngster, Jean grew up singing and performing folk music with her family. A graduate of the New School Jazz program and its undergrad liberal arts division, Eugene Lang College, Jean has sung in venues throughout New York City, including the Birdland, Sweet Rhythm, the 55 Bar, the Cornelia Street Café, Barbés, and others, as well as venues on the west coast, in Canada, Cuba, and Brazil. In July 2006 she won 2nd place as well as the audience choice award in the Shure Vocal Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In addition to playing her own music, Jean makes up a part of David Moore's Bing and Ruth and Hector Morales's Afrodita. She teaches and performs music for young children at public schools on the Lower East Side through the Third Street Music School Settlement and at other places throughout the city. Jean resides in Brooklyn, NY but she considers herself a world citizen.

Controversy at New School Graduation

At the May 2006 commencement ceremonies for New School University graduates, Jean Rohe was asked to speak on the same stage as John McCain. McCain's appearance was opposed by a large portion of the student body. Jean spoke at length about the opposition the students had to the speech. "The senator does not reflect the ideals upon which this university was founded," she said. "This invitation was a top-down decision that did not take into account the desires and interests of the student body on an occasion that is supposed to honor us above all." McCain's speech was met with heckles and jeers. In the aftermath of the ceremony, Jean was both praised and mocked in the blogosphere, with conservatives like Ann Coulter weighing in on the situation. . Jean also appeared on Countdown with Keith Olbermann on May 22 as well as on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC. She also appeared on several radio shows in relation to her music and her speech itself.

Discography

Jean Rohe released a new album in October '08 titled Lead Me Home. It includes 6 original tracks, as well as three others. It has been met with critical success. She sings in English on many tracks, as well as Portuguese and Spanish. It can be purchased from her website, www.jeanrohe.com