M.M., Choral Conducting, Claremont Graduate University
Doctoral studies at USC
Professional Profile:
Professor Bruce Rogers is the Director of Choral Activities at Mt. San
Antonio College, a position he assumed in 1994. In this role, he oversees
the department's various vocal and choral programs, which span the entire
spectrum of music — from classical to jazz. He personally directs Mt. San
Antonio College's award-winning Chamber Singers and the elite vocal jazz
ensemble, Singcopation.
Choirs under his direction have won numerous awards and first place honors
throughout the United States and Europe. Mr. Rogers' choirs have had the
honor of performing at five California State Conventions, seven American
Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Regional and National Conventions as
well as performing at three International Association of Jazz Educators
(IAJE) National Conventions. They have achieved top ranking in national and
international competitions throughout the world, including performances in
Concert Halls throughout the United States, Canada, Scotland, Wales,
England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria and the
Czech Republic.
In the year 2001, Mr. Rogers became the first choral director in United
States history to have two different choirs perform at both the IAJE
National Convention and the ACDA National Convention, and he achieved this
special honor once again in 2005 when his Chamber Singers performed at the
ACDA National Convention in Los Angeles, California and his vocal jazz group
“Singcopation” performed at the IAJE National Convention in Long Beach,
California.
Mr. Rogers' most recent European guest conducting venture was an invitation
to conduct at the AMIS International Honor Band and Choral Festival hosted
by the International School at The Hague, in the Netherlands. He has guest
conducted the New York Chamber Orchestra and Festival Chorus at Carnegie
Hall on three different occasions and has performed by special invitation at
Lincoln Center. In 2007, Professor Rogers was invited to conduct the ACDA
National Two-Year College Honor Choir at the ACDA National Convention in
Miami and the MENC Northwest Jazz Honor Choir in Portland. Mr. Rogers has
presented lectures, adjudicated, or conducted All-State and Collegiate Honor
Choirs in Florida, Wyoming, New York, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Georgia,
Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota,
Idaho, Missouri, Virginia and Canada. This year he has been invited to
guest conduct the Arizona All-State Mixed Honor Choir, the Clark County
Vocal Jazz Honor Choir in Las Vegas, conduct and present lectures at the
“ACCET Choral Conductor's Workshop” in Melbourne, Australia, guest conduct
the music of Franz Joseph Haydn in Vienna and Budapest with a professional
orchestra from Bulgaria and he has also been invited back for a fourth time
to conduct at Carnegie Hall.
During the summer of 2007, his Mt. SAC Chamber Singers were awarded the
first place prize at the “International Competition For Choirs” in Spittal
an der Drau, Austria and then traveled to Llangollen, Wales where they were
awarded the title of “Choir of the World” by winning the prestigious
Pavarotti Trophy at the “Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
Competition”. The Chamber Singers, under the direction of Professor Rogers,
received a total of four first place awards while competing at the
Eisteddfod competition, a feat never before accomplished by any choir in the
competition's sixty-one year history. In 2003, Mr. Rogers was awarded the
prestigious “Best Conductor” prize at the “International Grand Prix Choral
Competition” held in Varna, Bulgaria and his Chamber Singers received
numerous first place awards, including the title of “Grand Prix Champions”. Last year, his vocal jazz group Singcopation won a special performance award from Downbeat Magazine and in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 & 2006 Downbeat Magazine honored them with the title of the best college vocal jazz choir in the United States. For his many achievements, Mt. SAC presented Professor Rogers with its prestigious “Faculty Member of the Year” award and he has recently signed with Gentry Music to publish the “Bruce Rogers Choral Series”.
Educationally, Mr. Rogers earned a bachelor's degree in music education from
the University of Connecticut, a master's degree in choral conducting at
Claremont Graduate University, and has undertaken doctoral studies at the
University of Southern California