Annual American Composers Update

Sharon Elery Rogers

SAI member Sharon Elery Rogers, a free-lance composer of organ, piano, choral, and handbell music, serves as Director of Music and Organist at the Auburn Road Presbyterian Church in Venice, FL, where she resides. She has received her 33rd consecutive Honorary ASCAP award, with 464 published compositions for piano, organ, voice, chorus, handbells, and other instruments, with 22 major publishers throughout her career.

Premieres

At their Christmas concert, the Venice Presbyterian Church combined choirs with flute and organ accompaniment, directed by Douglas Leightenheimer, presented Old World Carols (Coronet-Presser). Directed by Toni Samsel at the Venice's United Church of Christ Christmas concert, the Cecilian Music Society's Ladies Chorale, with flute and piano, premiered Carols From Many Lands. Led by Janet Daniels, Songs of Thanks and Praise (Lorenz) was sung first by the Chapel of St. Andrews Adult Choir, Boca Raton, FL, Nov. 1996.

Performances

Mass for All People is sung weekly by the choir and congregation at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Gaylord, MI; and at the Episcopal Church in Saginaw, MI. Works heard at the Auburn Road Presbyterian Church included Old World Carols, All Christians, Come Rejoicing, and Soft the Night is Now Sleeping. At the Chapel of St. Andrews, Daniels played Hymn Settings for All Seasons (from a Belwin-Warner Brothers organ collection).

Publications

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee; 3-4-5 octaves of handbells; A Carol Festival; 2 and 3-4-5 octaves of handbells; both by Morning Star Music Publishers. More Gospel Gems; I Saw Three Ships; Solace (Joplin/Rogers); all for 3-4-5 octaves of handbells, by Jeffers Publ.. Old World Carols; SATB with optional flute and keyboard; Coronet-Presser Publ.. Joyful Shepherds on Christmas Night; 3-4-5 octaves of handbells; AMSI. Songs of Worship and Praise; 2-3 octaves of handbells; Alfred Publishing Co.. Now, Thankful People Come; 2-3 octaves of handbells; Augsburg Fortress. A Lenten Bell Meditation; An Easter Festival; Songs of Thanks and Praise; all for 2-3 octaves of handbells, by Lorenz Co..

Recordings

All of the above are available on tape from each publisher.

Further Information

For more complete information, see Sharon Rogers' entry in our Composers Bureau Online.