Roger Ames was born in Cooperstown, New York, the son of a self-taught church organist and first-grade teacher (his free pass to play the organ as a teenager). This and undoubtedly his mother’s 42 years as a teacher helped define his passionate love for creating music as well as teaching and conducting it.

He has written numerous large works, both sacred and secular. His Requiem for Our Time, using the poetry of Anne Sexton, has been performed both in the United States and abroad, and received its New England premiere by the Boston Chorus Pro Musica in November of 2007. It was recently nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music.

Ames’ fascination with American folk music and his love for choral music have inspired him to write many folk song arrangements, some of which are in the GIA catalog. His choral fantasy on Amazing Grace was commissioned and premiered by Dr. James Jordan and the Williamson Singers of Westminster Choir College and has been performed by many choirs since it was published in 2004. His collaborations with Dr. Jordan have helped create several books of choral warm-ups and exercises, all published by GIA. He has several extended works for chorus, Let There Be Joy (for cello, harp, and chorus, in 3 movements), Ancient Songs of the Universe (a rhapsody for piano and chorus). These are currently available by contacting the composer directly at [email protected]. His one-act operas are available at the same address.

You can find Roger's website at rogerames.org.

To access the archives for the following longer works, please contact Beth Ames, managing director of Roger Ames Music, at [email protected].

Article: Sounds Choral Remembers Composer Roger Ames

Major Choral-Orchestral and Theatrical Works

Abraham's Land (2021): Full length music theater piece

Amarantha (1983): Full length opera commissioned by Board of Homeland Ministries

Amistad (1978): Full length opera; Eugene O'Neill National Music Theater Award 1981

Ancient Songs of the Universe (2009): Piano-choral suite in 3 movements, commissioned by Long Island Masterworks Chorus, Francis Roberts, music director

Der Gelbe Klang (2013): One act opera commissioned by El Paso Opera, general director David Grebarkewitz

En Mis Palabras (2014): One act opera commissioned by Central City Opera, Deborah Morrow, Director of Education

The Greatest Generation (2017): Full length oratorio commissioned by the Minnesota Oratorio Society, Matthew Mehaffey, music director

Hearts On Fire (1995): Full length opera commissioned by Nautilus Music Theater, director Ben Krywosz

How Green Was My Valley (2014): Full length music theater piece; Eugene O'Neill finalist 2016; winner, Main Street Musical Director's Choice Award, chosen by director Michael Mayer

The Human Touch (2008): 20-minute choral piece

Illusions/Illusiones (2005): One act touring opera commissioned by Utah Opera, Ann Ewers, general director

Martin Guerre (1993): Full length music theater piece; winner, Connecticut Play of the Year, chosen by the Hartford Courant, director Mark Lamos

Mass for All Saints (1975): Commissioned by Westmoreland Congregational Church, Washington, D.C.

No Parking (2019): Full length music theater piece; Eugene O'Neill finalist 2019

Remember Warsaw (2011): Full length oratorio re-commissioned by the Minnesota Oratorio Society, Matthew Mehaffey, music director

Requiem for Our Time (1979): Commissioned by Montgomery County Masterworks Chorus; nominated for Pulitzer Prize, performance by Boston Pro Musica, Jeffrey Rink, conductor

Sleeping Beauty (2006): One act music theater piece commissioned by North Shore Music Theater

Three Emancipation Songs - For Women (2011): 12-minute choral suite commissioned by Hopkins High School, Philip Brown, conductor

Three Prayer Motets (1975): Commissioned by St. John's Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C.

Vagabonds (2005): Full length music theater piece commissioned by Theater Des Westens, Berlin, Germany

Song Cycles

Come Live with Me: Poetry by James Agee

Folk Songs: Various

Summer Sang in Me: Poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay

One Act Music Theater Pieces for Young Voices

Developed by Central City Opera Education Department and the Colorado Springs Conservatory, Deborah Morrow and Linda Weiss, directors

A Man's Worth

Inner Light

The Ludlow Massacre

Penrose

Recollections

Workshops

Music Words Opera Workshop, Denver, CO June 29. - Music Education

Instruction for educators interested in helping their students write and produce their own operas, using their current curriculum and developing cross-discipline alliances with other teachers and subject areas. Usually offered through opera companies in 'home cities.'

Music Words Opera Workshop, St. Louis, June 15-19 - Music Education

Instruction for educators interested in helping their students write and produce their own operas, using their current curriculum and developing cross-discipline alliances with other teachers and subject areas. Usually offered through opera companies in 'home cities.'

Colorado Springs Conservatory Opera Intensive - Music Education

July 3 - July 19, co-sponsored by Central City Opera in Denver. Designed for outstanding high school singers, the workshop covers performance practice, coachings, dance and movement, acting instruction, performing opera and music theater scenes, and creating an original one act opera based on "rags to riches." Admission by audition. Call Shantell Autry, assistant director of the conservatory, for further information. 719.229.6046 Roger Ames, composer in residence.

Children's Television Workshop 1 - Music Education

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street and so much more.

Children's Television Workshop 2 - Sacred Music

Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.

Children's Television Workshop 4 - Other

Our work promotes learning with real, measurable results, a fact borne out by numerous studies and sustained through our research-intensive process.

Children's Television Workshop 5 - Sacred Music

timeless movie gag edit

Children's Television Workshop 1 - Sacred Music,Other

putting workshop 1 back