About Val Rogers
Val Rogers is a teacher and passionate organizer working to expand and enrich the community singing experience. After 15 years leading community choirs, Val recently began teaching at world music camps, festivals, and workshops on the west coast and in Europe. In 2007, Val toured professionally with the vocal ensemble Northern Harmony, performing and teaching South African and other world vocal music in France, Italy, England, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Intensely drawn to southern African choral singing since first encountering it over a decade ago, Val's devotion to learning and sharing this music is driven by the powerful sense of joy and bonding participants inevitably experience. Her knowledge and love of this song/dance tradition has been nurtured by Zimbabwean, South African, and North American teachers, especially Sheasby Matiure, Matlakala Bopape, and Patty Cuyler. In addition to teaching, Val regularly organizes and presents world music camps, concerts, and workshops near her hometown of Eugene, Oregon.
Testimonials
"I found the experience fun, engaging, and moving. Your ability to engage everyone and to give each part the precise notes, words, and steps, allowed me to relax, enjoy, and learn. I'm glad I had a chance to experience the joy of being together in community.""Your direction was fabulous - specific, fast, positive, clear and inclusive, both verbal and physical. It enabled me to meet your expectations and reach over my own expected trepidations. You helped meet my needs for fun, laughter, community, and love."
"After thirty years of teaching and conducting staff development for teachers across the board (from higher ed to k-12), I can say confidently that I have rarely seen a teacher as skilled as you. What a marvelous experience!"
I was amazed at the complexity of the material you taught us, and I never went through my usual "I can't do this, I shouldn't be here!" panic. What a great workshop!
Email Val at val@valrogers.org.