Background
A versatile and dynamic musician, Mikayla Rogers is a pianist and vocal coach currently based in upstate New York. She is excited to bring a fresh perspective to her new role as lecturer of vocal coaching at Binghamton University (SUNY).
As a recitalist, Rogers has appeared at various summer festivals, including Belvoir Terrace, Music in the Marche, American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS), Trentino Music Festival, Source Song Festival and the BayView Music Festival. Additionally, she has served as an opera rehearsal pianist and coach for Ariadne auf Naxos, La Cenerentola, and various operatic scenes ranging from Cavalli to Verdi.
Rogers has studied song repertoire with well-known musicians, including Kathleen Kelly, Warren Jones, Arlene Shrut, Ruth Palmer, Elvia Puccinelli, Gary Matthewman and Liza Stepanova. Additionally, she has looked to teachers such as Jeffrey Peterson, Rita Borden, Jennifer Allor and James Douglass for vocal coaching advice.
Rogers has experience coaching repertoire in Italian, German, French and Spanish.
Originally from South Dakota, she began playing the piano at the age of 5. She holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Northern Arizona University, a Master of Music in Accompanying from Florida State University and a Doctor of Music in Collaborative Piano from Florida State University. While at Florida State, she served as a studio accompanist and opera graduate assistant. Her instructors include Frank Scott, Timothy Hoekman and Valerie Trujillo.
While at Florida State University, Rogers worked on several operas as a pianist and harpsichordist, including Il barbiere di Siviglia, Le nozze di Figaro, As One, and La Hija de Rappaccini. She has also been the musical director for two outreach productions of The Magic Flute, Abrazo de Oso and a production of Luisa Fernanda. A recent engagement included playing in an opera scenes concert with baritone Ryan Speedo Green.
In addition to her role as pianist and coach, Rogers began her research in the summer of 2023 on the art song repertoire of American composer Judith Cloud, who served as a mentor during her time at Northern Arizona University. Her treatise covers three song sets called The Secret History of Water, where she analyzes Cloud’s extensive use of text painting. Her research culminated in a lecture recital titled “Judith Cloud: The Secret History of Water.”
Recent Performances
- Faculty Recital: Belvoir Terrace Fine Arts and Theater Camp, MA
- Faculty Recital: “Songs of the Night and Sea” with Matthew Giallongo, baritone
- Classical Concerts at Firch Church Belmont, MA. “Raising Voices, Casting Votes” with Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano
Education
- DM in Collaborative Piano, Florida State University
- MM in Accompanying, Florida State University
- BM in Piano Performance, Northern Arizona University
Research Interests
- Judith Cloud, American Art Song Composer