Roger Wagner Page 2

Roger Wagner was born on January 16, 1914 in LePuy, France. In 1921, his family emigrated from France, settling in Syracuse, New York, but due to his father's respiratory difficulties, eventually resettled in Los Angeles. At age twelve, Wagner became the organist at St. Ambrose Church in West Hollywood while singing soprano in his father's choir.

Roger Wagner studied for the priesthood, but ultimately chose music as his profession, completing his undergraduate studies in France, earning a degree in music at the College of Montmorency while studying organ with Marcel Dupré. After completing his studies, he served military duty in the French army, during which time he qualified as a member of the French decathlon team in the 1936 Olympics. He returned to the United States in 1937 and joined the MGM Chorus in Hollywood.

Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Music Director at St. Joseph's Church in downtown Los Angeles and quickly established a renowned men and boys' choir that brought considerable recognition to the young conductor. In 1945, he became the supervisor of youth choruses for the City of Los Angeles, and a year later debuted the thirty-two voice Roger Wagner Chorale, which had developed from a madrigal group of twelve singers.

The Roger Wagner Chorale earned an international reputation through its numerous concert, radio and television appearances, motion picture soundtracks and more than 70 recordings. The choir's Virtuoso recording on the Capitol label won a Grammy award, and its recording Joy to the World was a gold album, selling more than 500,000 copies to become the best-selling record in Capitol's classical division at that time.

In 1964, he organized the Los Angeles Master Chorale as the resident choral ensemble of the newly completed Los Angeles Music Center. He served as the Chorale's Music Director for 23 years until he was named Music Director Laureate in 1985. He taught for 32 years on the music faculty of UCLA, where he continued as Professor Emeritus until his death. He also taught at Mount Carmel High School, Pepperdine University, Marymount College and Westminister Choir College.

In September of 1992, suffering from terminal cancer, he returned for a last visit to his native country. Although he had expected to return, he died in Dijon in the company of his cousins after spending several days visiting his friend and colleague Robert Shaw.