Roger Craig Vogel (born July 6, 1947) is an American composer of contemporary classical music and a music educator.
Life
The oldest of two children, Vogel was born in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated in 1965 from Lincoln High School in Cleveland Ohio. He studied music theory and composition at the Ohio State University in Columbus (Ohio) and earned the degrees of Bachelor of Music in composition in 1971, Master of Music in music theory in 1973, and in 1975 he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in music theory. His teachers included Marshall Barnes, Jay Huff, Norman Phelps, and Wolf Rosenberg. Although his graduate major was music theory, he was awarded first prize in the Delta Omicron Composition Contest in 1973 and 1974. Also, his original composition Obstreperous Sonority Number 2a for string orchestra won the student concerto competition in 1973, and the following year his work Encounter Number One for large orchestral also won the competition.
In 1976, he joined the faculty of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia as an assistant professor and taught both music theory and composition. He became associate professor in 1982, and full professor in 1996. He has been professor emeritus since 2012.
As a composer he has written and published more than 110 works for a variety of ensembles with such firms as the American Composers Alliance, Brixton Publications, Wiltshire Music Company, Hal Leonard Corporation, Jon Ross Music, LLC, and seven other publishers. His music has received favorable reviews in the Journal of Singing, Fanfare (magazine), American Choral Directors Association The Choral Journal, NACWPI JOURNAL, The Saxophone Symposium, and numerous other publications. In addition, he has been an active member of the Southeastern Composers League.
Awards
Vogel's awards include prizes from the Roger Wagner Choral Composition Competition, the National Saxophone Workshop Composition Contest, the National Flute Association, and the Delius Composition Competition. In 2011 he received the University of Georgia Albert Christ Janer Award. He has received commissions from the Georgia Music Teachers Association, the University of Georgia, Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Women's Music Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Professional Men's Music Fraternity, the Helios Duo, he Fellowship of Reason, the Athens Master Chorale, the Medical College of Georgia, the Georgia 'Cello Society, the Chattanooga Clarinet Choir and the Bass Club of Georgia. His works have been performed in recitals, and at conventions and festivals, throughout the United States, South America, Europe, and in Asia. Noted American composer Samuel Adler has said of Vogel, "Vogel is a fine composer. His music is very solid . . . and the work of someone who feels deeply every note. I consider his works a fine contribution to the body of American music, and with it he has established himself as a composer with a good reputation throughout this country."
Compositions
Orchestral music
1973-74 Three Sonorities, for string orchestra
1974 Encounter, for large orchestra
1980 Concerto, for horn and string orchestra
Music for band
1982 Allusions to Hollywood, for high school band
1991 Concerto, for alto saxophone and winds
1993 Ceremonial March, for band
1997 Fanfares and Flourishes, for three antiphonal brass quintets
2000 Flat Rock March, for middle school band
2001 Autumn Song, for middle school band
2004 Edenwood, for high school band
2005 Concerto, for trumpet and band
2010 Music Becomes Me for solo voice, solo flute, and wind ensemble
2013 Jammin' Junkyard Dawgs for Jazz Studio Orchestra
Dramatic works
2009 Lysistrata, a chamber opera in one act after Aristophones. 2011 Things Fall Apart, based on the novel by Chinua Achebe, for bass voice, flute, piano, and hand drums
Choral music
1986 Karma, for mixed chorus
1986 My Secret Love, for women's chorus (SSA) 1986 Psalm 100, for mixed chorus 1986 The Nature of the Cat, for women's chorus (SSA) and piano 1992-96 Cats and Bats and Things With Wings, for mixed chorus and piano The Cat The Frog The Owl (SSAA) The Crab (TTBB) The Grasshopper The Bat 1993 We Are the Music Makers, for women's chorus (SSAA), two flutes, and piano. 1999 Canticle of Reason, for mixed chorus 2003 Winter Song, for mixed chorus, two flutes, and piano 2016 Christmas Long Ago for mixed chorus and piano