Year 2 – The Wolf River Singers Choral Commissioning Project

Composer: Wayland Rogers, “God of the Open Air”, Performed: March 8, 2007

The world premiere of “God of the Open Air,” by internationally renowned composer Wayland Rogers was the second installment of The Wolf River Singers Choral Commissioning Project. Rogers attended the March 8, 2008 concert to hear the piece performed for the first time.

Rogers’ compositions are performed throughout Americaand abroad in concert halls, schools, churches, and synagogues. Recent premieres have been given in Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Norway,Sweden, Finland, Germany,Ireland, Spain and France.

He is winner of several composition competitions including The Roger Wagner Center Choral Competition, the Meistersingers Choral Competition, the Chautauqua Chamber Singers Award, the Illinois ACDA Choral Composition Competition, and the Vincent B. Silliman Anthem Award.

Rogers, a singer, conductor and teacher as well as a composer, was born Dec. 26, 1941 in Kentuckyand trained at University of Kentucky, Wichita State University, Northwestern University, The Salzburg Mozarteum, and in London.