Rogers Brings Passion to Music Classroom

Many Wabash students and faculty come from small rural towns across the Midwest.  Very few experience the diversity that lies beyond their small community, Associate Professor of Music Vanessa Rogers has experienced the diversity full circle. It’s an experience she’s excited to share. 

Rogers is a tenure track professor in the Music Department. Her perspective has been shaped by her past. Rogers grew up outside of Peoria, Illinois, and attended Illinois Wesleyan University. After graduating, she moved on to the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, California, where she worked on her master and doctorate degrees and began her career as a music professor. Rogers spent a year overseas at University of Oxford doing research.

"Definitely going full circle," Rogers said, "starting in the Midwest, growing up in a smaller town than Crawfordsville, going to a school similar to Wabash and then getting an outside perspective from a giant, diverse city on the opposite end of the spectrum and also living overseas gives you a different perspective."

When it comes to passions, music is at the top of Rogers’ list.  She said music is sometimes seen as a worthless degree because of the limited amount of jobs within the field, but Rogers is not convinced. 

"You can make a good career out of doing what you love," said Rogers.  "I want to make sure (the students) know how many opportunities they have in these so called ‘worthless degrees’ that they think they are getting."

Rogers’ research deals with Musicology, the history and literature of music, and her primary focus is in 18th Century English Opera and Musical theatre. With past experience teaching at USC, her research at Oxford, and her undergraduate work at Illinois Wesleyan, Roger is thrilled to start her teaching. 
 
"I find Wabash to be really similar to Illinois Wesleyan," said Rogers. "It has a sense of community, being in a small place, the Liberal Arts, and the students really strike me as exquisite and interested in intellectual development. I have been really impressed by the students here. I am so thrilled!  As you spend the summer preparing, you finally get here and now it is real."

Her colleagues have noticed Rogers’s passion.  Diana Norton, Library’s Liaison to the Music Department said, "She’s very knowledgeable and enthusiastic!  I am very much looking forward to working with her."

Besides her passion for Music, Rogers also enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and surfing.  "When I was in L.A., I learned how to surf and I highly recommend surf lessons.  It is an unbelievable experience!" 

She believes her passions will add to Wabash’s rich tradition. "We all have our passions, and I think that is why we are all here because it fits with what Wabash is, which is a really passionate community." 

Photos by Chad Simpson '10

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