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SFCM Graduate Garners Latin Grammy Nomination

Bass player Stewart Rosen has earned a Latin Grammy nod for Best Tango Album with his ensemble Tinto Tango. The musician credits his teacher and education for helping him achieve the honor.

September 30, 2021 by Mark Taylor

By Mark Taylor

Congratulations are in order! The Latin Recording Academy has announced the nominees for the 22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards and the list includes a graduate from SFCM. Bassist Stewart Rosen ‘14 has been nominated! His ensemble, Tinto Tango, earned the nod for their record, ‘Tinto Tango Plays Piazzolla’ for Best Tango Album. 

“The nomination is humbling, and the news was a nice surprise to wake up to,” Rosen said of the honor. “We went into the studio with the intention of doing something special that we could all be proud of,” He added. In addition to the album, Rosen and his group shot music videos and played arrangements live, “Working on the project was a lot of fun because I got to play some of the best music with great friends.”

While at SFCM, the double bass major studied with Professor Scott Pingel. To this day he considers Mr. Pingel one of his biggest musical inspirations and mentors, “I still reflect on my lessons with Mr. Pingel even years later. I felt as though his goal was not just to help me become a great orchestral bassist, but also a well-rounded musician,” Rosen said. 

“In addition to my work with Tinto Tango, I also play opera, orchestra, jazz, musical theater, rock, and all kinds of pop music. When I’m asked to learn a new style of music, I know that I can rely on the tools I learned at SFCM,” Rosen added. 

At SFCM Professor Pingel shared words of congratulations for his former student, “I’m so proud of Stewart Rosen for receiving a Latin Grammy nomination with his tango band, Tinto Tango. It was a joy working with him as my double bass student at SFCM,” Pingel said. “I wish him continued success in all his inspiring endeavors!”

Tinto Tango is a Los Angeles-based Argentinean tango ensemble. Rosen has been playing with the group since 2017. Stewart is also the Principal Bassist for Los Angeles Chamber Music Company. He has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Bakersfield Symphony, Desert Symphony, and Symphony Silicon Valley. 

The 2021 Latin Grammy Awards telecast will air on Thursday, November 18th. 

Learn more about studying the double bass.