As part of its long history of supporting living composers, the Elise L. Stoeger Prize, a $25,000 cash prize, is awarded biennially by CMS to recognize significant contributions to the field of chamber music composition. CMS is thrilled to announce that the 2022 Stoeger Prize has been awarded to Chris Rogerson. Hailed as a “confident new musical voice” by The New York Times and a “fully-grown composing talent” by The Washington Post, Chris Rogerson’s music is often characterized by its lyricism; recent notable works include Of Simple Grace, for cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and Dream Sequence, for Anne-Marie McDermott and the Dover Quartet. An avid traveler who has visited over 90 countries around the world, Rogerson's work is frequently evocative of a sense of place, such as his String Quartet No. 4, commissioned for the Escher Quartet, which draws from his experience in a remote corner of Afghanistan.
“We are personally delighted that this year’s Stoeger jury has selected Chris Rogerson as the 2022 recipient of the prize,” said CMS Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel. “Chris’s music embodies all that we look for in the works of today’s chamber music composers: genuine inspiration; knowledgeable and skillful instrumental writing; a combination of immediate appeal and intriguing challenge which invites further hearings; and very importantly, a true sense of the very nature of chamber music as an art form of dialogue between equals. In addition, Chris has proven to be very much a ‘performer’s composer’ in that so many fine players have asked for works from him. Their advocacy and passion, combined with new music of real quality, is what truly drives our art form forward.”
“I am truly honored to receive the Stoeger Prize,” said Mr. Rogerson. “Many of the past winners of this award are my musical heroes (and former teachers!) and I am so moved to be included among them. In many ways I have poured much of my musical energy into chamber music, and to have CMS, an organization I so deeply respect and admire, recognize me in this way is beyond meaningful—and it motivates me to continue to create.”
