Alice Rogers

B.M., Ithaca College; M.M., Northwestern University

Trombone, Euphonium

2024

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Raised in western Massachusetts in a house full of musicians, trombonist Alice Rogers enjoyed early exposure to classical, jazz, opera, and the Beatles. At the age of seven, she began her piano studies with Galina Gertsenzon. A few years later, Alice joined her fifth grade school band where she fell in love with the trombone as a student of Charles Emery and Tim Atherton.

At Ithaca College, she was awarded a full undergraduate scholarship as the James J. Whalen Scholar for her incoming class. Alice was a trombone student of the late Hal Reynolds and studied piano with Jennifer Hayghe and Read Gainsford. She played under the batons of Stephen Peterson, Mark Fonder, and Jeffrey Meyer, with whom she also studied conducting.

Ms. Rogers began her career teaching instrumental music in Lake Placid, NY, where she kept an active performance schedule as trombonist with the Adirondack Wind Ensemble, Northern Symphonic Winds, Tri-Lakes Orchestra, and High Peaks Brass Quintet. She earned her Master’s in musicology at Northwestern University, where she combined her love of music, culture, history, and writing. Ms. Rogers then returned to public school teaching in Southwick, Massachusetts as director of the high school vocal and instrumental program. In addition, she performed with the American Prize-winning Valley Winds (Amherst, MA), and maintained a private trombone studio. Since moving to the Bronx in 2016, she has served as an elementary music teacher and an instructional supervisor for urban music educators. At P.S. 76, Ms. Rogers was honored to lead the Bennington Band, a talented group of fifth grade, first-year players. In 2019, this ensemble was chosen from over 40 other NYC ensembles to perform at the annual gala for Education Through Music, a non-profit that provides access to high-quality, sustainable music education in under-resourced NYC schools. Ms. Rogers is currently Director of Bands at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.

“As an educator, I enjoy working with musicians of all ages and abilities, whether in the classroom, on the podium, or as a private instructor. I strive to elicit the very best from my students and empower them to tackle meaningful, challenging repertoire. I believe in building a strong foundation though solid technique and consistent practice habits, and I often discuss strategies of working through performance anxieties. My life has been so enriched by the study of music and I find great joy and fulfillment in sharing that with others. To paraphrase one of my favorite quotes, ‘The fact that people make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music makes beautiful people.’ ”