John Rodgers is a Brisbane-based Australian 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.
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 Queensland
The Ultimate Prize: a John Rodgers Retrospective (2004) for Brisbane Cabaret Festival
TULP: The Body Public with Justine Cooper for ELISION Ensemble 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 Ensemble
Inferno (2000) for ELISION Ensemble and Adelaide Festival and Brisbane Festival
The Sunshine Club (1999) with Wesley Enoch for the Queensland Theatre Company
Moras for the Australian Art Orchestra and the Sruthi Laya ensemble
Carolling (1998) for Perehelion
CONTACT DETAILS
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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
The Australian Art Orchestra
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