Rodger Whitten
Intermediate & Advanced Piano
— brings a wealth of musical experience to his teaching and playing. Rodger began studying piano at age six and organ at age twelve. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master’s degree, also in Piano Performance, from the University of Southern California. At USC, he studied piano with Professor James Bonn and conducting with Professors Hans Beer and David Wilson. Rodger began teaching piano, organ, and music theory/musicianship while in college, and has continued to this day - some forty years of teaching experience. He has toured extensively as pianist, organist, and choral musician throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. Rodger maintains a busy schedule as teacher, conductor, piano soloist/accompanist, organist, and chamber musician.
For the past twenty-six years, he has served as Organist/Director of Music at Community Church, Congregational, in Corona del Mar. A former faculty member at Irvine Valley College for 10 years, Mr. Whitten also served on the music faculty at UC Irvine for three years, teaching music theory, musicianship, and as conductor of many of the university’s choral ensembles. During post-graduate work at USC, Rodger taught both class and private piano as part of his doctoral assistantship. In June 2004, Rodger was appointed Music Director of the Los Angeles Swiss Singing Society Harmonie. Rodger has recorded three CD’s over the years, the most recent released in November 2014 entitled ‘Portraits in Black and White’. He and his wife, Barbara, are residents of Wrightwood, CA, where they enjoy hiking, skiing, and family life in the mountains. Rodger loves being a part of the faculty of Wrightwood Education Studio.