Wayland Rogers has been Music Director of North Shore Unitarian Church since 1991. His professional experiences as a singer, teacher, pianist, composer and conductor have served him well in bringing to the musical life of the church a broad range of styles, repertoire, performing artists, and programs.
Mr. Rogers trained at University of Kentucky, Wichita State University, Northwestern University, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and in London.
A lyric baritone, he has sung with major orchestras of the US and at the festivals of Tanglewood, Blossom, Ravinia, and Mostly Mozart/Lincoln Center. His recital specialties are the French Mélodie and the German Lied. He received a GRAMMY nomination with the Chicago Symphony Winds for best Chamber Music recording in 1987.
He has taught voice and conducting at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Loyola University/Chicago, Music Institute of Chicago, Western Kentucky University and is currently on the conducting faculty at North Park University. Many of his students have gone on to successful careers in opera, musical theater, television, radio and film. He was Artistic Director/Conductor of the Camerata Singers of Lake Forest for 15 years.
His catalogue of compositions includes over 145 works including extended choral pieces with instruments, a cappella choral works, art songs, instrumental pieces and vocal chamber music. Many pieces have been especially commissioned. He is published by Boosey and Hawkes, Inc., Alliance Music Publishers, Jackman Music Corp. and Thomas House Music.
He is the winner of the following competitions:
2008 Leeds University Choir Composition Competition,
2006 Meistersingers Choral Competition,
2006 Vincent B. Silliman Anthem Award,
2000 ACDA Illinois Composition Competition,
1998 Roger Wagner Center Choral Competition,
1998 Chautauqua Chamber Singers Choral Competition,
1997 Vincent B. Silliman Anthem Award (2nd place)
Recent performances of his works have been given by such Chicago area groups as: Chicago a cappella, Bella Voce, Chicago Choral Artists, Music Institute of Chicago Chorale, Glen Ellyn Childrens' Chorus, Chicago Choral Ensemble, Chicago Mastersingers, New Classic Singers, Young Naperville Singers, Heritage Choral of Oak Park and Camerata Singers of Lake Forest. His works are regularly heard in churches, synagogues, concert halls, schools and universities across the US as well as abroad.
Recent commissions for his works include: Glen Ellyn Childrens' Chorus (for national convention of ACDA, NY, 2003), Chihaya Women's Chorus of Tokyo, Lake Shore Choral Festival, Lake Forest High School, Kodaly Music Educators of Kansas and Wichita State University, Joseph Ohrt and the Central Bucks County High School-West Chorus, Congregation Solel, St. Ferdinand's Church, St. John Brebeuf Church, Wolf River Singers, Buffalo Grove Childrens' Chorus, and Youth Choral Theater of Chicago.
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