John Rodgers (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Rodgers is a Brisbane
-based Australia
n composer, improviser, violinist, pianist and guitarist.
Rodgers had an early background in classical music. He was the leader of the Australian Youth Orchestra
, the Queensland Theatre Orchestra, and the Hunter Orchestra. With these and other orchestras, he toured Europe and Asia, often appearing as a soloist on violin. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music
in 1984.
Rodgers chose not to follow the path that led to a career in classical music, instead forming controversial sex-and-death cult rock band Madam Bones Brothel with Pearly Black
and later playing improvised music in ensembles such as The John Rodgers Trio and Artisan's Workshop.
Rodgers is a founding member of the Australian Art Orchestra and was its Associate Artistic Director in 2005. He has worked with the New York performance artist Penny Arcade
(Vienna Festival
1997), the Robyn Archer
band and many of Australia's leading musicians and artists. He has performed solo concerts in the Adelaide Festival and the Melbourne Summer Music Festival.
Rodgers is highly regarded for his creative genius as a composer and has produced many works in fields including music theatre and new media.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n composer, improviser, violinist, pianist and guitarist.
Rodgers had an early background in classical music. He was the leader of the Australian Youth Orchestra
Australian Youth Orchestra
The Australian Youth Orchestra is an Australian organisation for young musicians. It operates the flagship Youth Orchestra as well as Camerata Australia, Young Australian Concert Artists and Young Symphonists. It also runs several other activities including master classes, outreach programmes and...
, the Queensland Theatre Orchestra, and the Hunter Orchestra. With these and other orchestras, he toured Europe and Asia, often appearing as a soloist on violin. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University was originally an independent tertiary-level institution, called the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.-History:...
in 1984.
Rodgers chose not to follow the path that led to a career in classical music, instead forming controversial sex-and-death cult rock band Madam Bones Brothel with Pearly Black
Pearly Black
Pearly Black is an Australian singer. Her performance style varies widely, performing with several ensembles in different genres and in short-run shows...
and later playing improvised music in ensembles such as The John Rodgers Trio and Artisan's Workshop.
Rodgers is a founding member of the Australian Art Orchestra and was its Associate Artistic Director in 2005. He has worked with the New York performance artist Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade (performer)
Susana Ventura , better known by her stage name Penny Arcade, is an American performance artist, actress, and playwright based in New York City.-Career:...
(Vienna Festival
Vienna Festival
The Wiener Festwochen is a cultural festival in Vienna that takes place every year for five or six weeks in May and June.The Wiener Festwochen was established in 1951, when Vienna was still occupied by the four Allies...
1997), the Robyn Archer
Robyn Archer
Robyn Archer AO CdOAL is an Australian singer, writer, stage and director, artistic director, and public advocate of the arts, in Australia and internationally.-Life:Archer was born Robyn Smith in Prospect, South Australia...
band and many of Australia's leading musicians and artists. He has performed solo concerts in the Adelaide Festival and the Melbourne Summer Music Festival.
Rodgers is highly regarded for his creative genius as a composer and has produced many works in fields including music theatre and new media.
Creative output
Works composed by Rodgers include:- Violinist Extraordinaire John Rodgers (2001)
- The Mizler Society (2002) with Anthony Burr for Australian Arts Orchestra
- Bobcat Dancing (2003) for Queensland Biennial Festival of Music
- Ratbags (2004) for Aterial and Opera QueenslandOpera QueenslandOpera Queensland is an opera company based in Brisbane, Queensland. The company was founded with funding from the Queensland State Government in 1981, then under the name Lyric Opera of Queensland, after the Queensland Opera Company was closed in December 1980.It is after Opera Australia the second...
- The Ultimate Prize: a John Rodgers Retrospective (2004) for Brisbane Cabaret Festival
- TULP: The Body Public with Justine Cooper for ELISION EnsembleELISION EnsembleThe ELISION Ensemble is a chamber ensemble specialising in contemporary classical music,concentrating on the creation and presentation of new works....
at the Sydney and Brisbane Festivals - Bobcat Magic! (2005) for Queensland Music Festival
- The Garden of Deep Despair (2001) for the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Gondwana Voices
- Places in Hell (2000) for ELISION EnsembleELISION EnsembleThe ELISION Ensemble is a chamber ensemble specialising in contemporary classical music,concentrating on the creation and presentation of new works....
- Inferno (2000) for ELISION EnsembleELISION EnsembleThe ELISION Ensemble is a chamber ensemble specialising in contemporary classical music,concentrating on the creation and presentation of new works....
and Adelaide Festival and Brisbane Festival - The Sunshine Club (1999) with Wesley EnochWesley EnochWesley Enoch is an Australian playwright and artistic director of Murri descent.- Life :The eldest son of Doug and Lyn Enoch from Stradbroke Island, Wesley Enoch grew up in Brisbane....
for the Queensland Theatre Company - Moras for the Australian Art Orchestra and the Sruthi Laya ensemble
- Carolling (1998) for Perehelion