John Rodgers (musician)

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 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 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

External links

• Biography @ Australian Arts Orchestra
• Biography @ ELISION Ensemble
• Artist page @ Extreme Records