Role

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Composer

Birth

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1963

 

John Fitz Rogers is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on August 10, 1963, in Florence, South Carolina. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Rogers started playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He went on to study music at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. After completing his undergraduate studies, Rogers continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in composition. He then went on to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Michigan. During his time at Michigan, Rogers studied with some of the most prominent composers of the time, including William Bolcom, Michael Daugherty, and Leslie Bassett. Rogers' music is known for its eclectic style, blending elements of classical, jazz, and rock music. He has composed works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers. Some of his most notable works include "The Passing Sun," a concerto for electric guitar and orchestra, "The Spirit of the Garden," a chamber work for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano, and "The Imagined Sound of Sun on Stone," a work for orchestra and electronics. One of Rogers' most significant works is his opera "The Memory Stone," which premiered in 2014. The opera tells the story of a young girl who discovers a magical stone that allows her to travel through time. The work features a libretto by playwright and poet Marjorie Sandor and was commissioned by the South Carolina Philharmonic. In addition to his work as a composer, Rogers is also an accomplished pianist and conductor. He has performed with a variety of ensembles, including the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and the Michigan Chamber Players. He has also conducted performances of his own works with the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra and the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Rogers has received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer, including the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has also been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. In addition to his work as a composer, Rogers is also a dedicated educator. He has taught at a number of universities, including the University of South Carolina, the University of Michigan, and the College of Charleston. He is currently a professor of composition at the University of South Carolina, where he also serves as the director of the Southern Exposure New Music Series. Overall, John Fitz Rogers is a highly accomplished composer whose work has been performed by some of the most prominent ensembles in the world. His eclectic style and innovative approach to composition have earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting and dynamic composers of his generation.

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