2.35 - Roger Zare

Dr. Roger Zare is an assistant professor of composition and theory in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. He is praised for his “enviable grasp of orchestration” (New York Times), and often composes music inspired by science, nature, mathematics, and mythology. Dr. Zare previously taught at Illinois State University.

An award-winning composer, Dr. Zare has had his music performed on six continents and has won multiple accolades, including the ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Prize, three BMI Student Composer Awards, a Copland House Residency Award, and a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His works, such as “The Other Rainbow” and “Green Flash,” have been performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall. His piece "Aerodynamics" was premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra.

He has partnered with CERN for performances of his particle physics inspired music at the Montreux Jazz Festival and Sofia Science Festival, and in 2023 he was selected as the FRA Guest Composer at Fermilab, the United States’ national particle physics laboratory. In 2021, he collaborated with clarinetist Andy Hudson to write "Elements of Contemporary Clarinet Technique" and "SPACE BASS," etude books on modern clarinet techniques.

Dr. Zare has served as composer in residence at music festivals including the Salt Bay Chamberfest and Chesapeake Music Festival, and his compositions are published by Theodore Presser Inc., FJH Music Company, Murphy Music Press, and Manhattan Beach Music. He is a founding member of the Blue Dot Collective.

Zare holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music from Peabody Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California.