Rodney Rogers writes both instrumental and vocal music, and his CD Complicated Optimism, features many of his works. Four of Rogers’ works received their New York premieres at Carnegie Recital Hall (Weiss Hall), and US performances of his compositions for wind and brass have taken place at Juilliard, Eastman, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Florida State University, Indiana University, the University of Michigan, the University of North Texas, Northwestern University and the University of Washington. European performances have taken place in Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and Italy; those in Asia and the Pacific Rim include Australia, China, Japan and Korea.

Rogers is the recipient of composition awards from BMI, ASCAP, and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). He has received commissions from the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA, 50th Anniversary), the MTNA, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA Consortium Commission), and numerous individual performers and chamber groups. Fellowships in composition include Tanglewood, the MacDowell Colony, and the Yaddo Artist Colony. His music is published by Hal Leonard and Carl Fischer and is also available through the composer. Rogers received his PhD. from the University of Iowa, has taught composition at Louisiana State University and Lawrence University (Appleton, WI), and is currently on the composition faculty at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.