Sharon Elery Rogers

Sharon Elery Rogers, who was born in Michigan, is a nationally known composer of hundreds of published choral anthems, masses, organ and vocal collections, brass, piano, and handbell pieces. She is the recipient of forty‑nine annual special awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Her B.A. and Public School Music Teaching Certificate were earned at Hillsdale College where she auditioned for and won a four year interstate music scholarship after playing the both the organ and piano masterworks as well as her own compositions. She was featured several times as piano soloist with the Hillsdale and South Bend Symphony Orchestras with the late Edwin Haymes conducting. Sharon attended Wayne State University in Detroit for her graduate study in composition and voice. She held the position of Supervisor of Music at three suburban Detroit school systems as well as teaching private music students for a number of years. She sang and arranged music at two Detroit radio stations with the Don Large Chorus, the Lutheran Charities Hour, and was soloist with the Wayne King Chorus. Sharon was an organ soloist at several large churches and held the position of Director of Music at many Detroit and suburban churches.

Several years later, Sharon and family relocated to Southwest Florida. In 1993 she won first prize in the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers composer's contest with her original piece A Raz‑A‑Ma‑Taz and was named Composer of the Year in 1999 by the Jeffers Handbell Supply Publishing Co. Sharon was made an Honorary Life Member of the Detroit Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Venice Music Society (National Federation of Music Clubs) and served as chairman of the ASCAP Young Adult Composers in Southwest Florida. She has also received the Alumni Achievement Award from Hillsdale College in recognition for her outstanding service in the field of music and high honor brought to her Alma Mater. She was Director of Music for fourteen years at St. Armand's Key Lutheran Church in Sarasota, also Auburn Road Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Venice and is presently assisting at Venice Presbyterian Church downtown Venice.

Recently published was her collection from Chorister's Guild Publishers Music of the Masters. (Reduction of famous classics for school and church use written for early Handbell and Handchime ringers. The collection includes pictures, composers' biographies, and critiques for the teachers explaining the ringing techniques.) Her series of separate easy Handbell works with Alfred Publishers titled A Bit of Bach, A Bit of Tchaikowsky, A Bit of Handel, and many other composers is being used widely in teaching of early to intermediate ringers in schools and churches throughout the country. She has several choral anthems published in most recent years as well as several organ collections and many individual handbell pieces. Sharon's most recent publication from Chorister's Guild Music of the Masters 2 is now being printed. She is working on a new organ collection soon to be in print as well as a book of sacred piano solos.