On the cusp of its nearly 60 year choral presence in our Nation’s Capital, Eugene Rogers will be the first African-American conductor of The Washington Chorus, one of our country’s premiere symphonic choirs. Here, we share some of the details as well as an exclusive interview with Maestro Rogers.

ANN ARBOR—"Love, Life & Loss," a music documentary featuring the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club, won five Emmys at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Michigan Chapter) 39th Emmy Award Ceremony June 10 in Detroit.

Effective July 1, 2018, Eugene Rogers, currently associate director of choirs and associate director of conducting, will assume the position of Director of Choral Activities following the retirement of Jerry O. Blackstone. Dr. Blackstone will step down in April 2018 after 30 years in this role, and is also retiring from his position as professor and chair of the Department of Conducting.

Recognized as a leading conductor, pedagogue and lecturer, Eugene Rogers has appeared throughout the United States and abroad. His passionate work dealing with issues of social justice and music was featured in the Michigan Media documentary Love, Life and Loss and in articles of the Detroit Free Press, the Miami Herald and Chorus America. Rogers is currently an associate professor of conducting and the associate director of choirs at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and recently began his post as the first National Chair of the American Choral Directors Association Diversity Initiatives Standing Committee.