Billings Symphony Orchestra Presents: Ann Roggen

As the President of the New York Viola Society, Ann Roggen has created numerous performance opportunities in New York City for dedicated violists to explore this repertoire, both old and new. She has been awarded grants from Chamber Music America and the National Endowments of the Arts, and as a member of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, in New York. At William Paterson University in New Jersey, she is a professor of viola, violin and chamber music. As a member of the Vassar and Bennington College faculties, she had great success in developing interdisciplinary cultural events designed to combine music with literature, history, advance and language in performance. Roggen is a tireless advocate for unique and unusual repertoire for the viola in combination with other instruments and voice. Some of Roggens recent creations include “The Forbidden Music – Music by Composers Banned by the Third Reich,” as well as an event presented by the Pen and Bruch organization devoted to the life and works of composer Rebecca Clarke. Highlights of recent seasons include a solo performance with the Zagreb Chamber orchestra, as well as recitals and master classes under the auspices of the American Cultural Centres in Zagreb and Vilnius, Lithuania. Roggen received her musical training at the Peabody institute of John Hopkins University, and Julliard.