Clara Kathleen Rogers facts for kids
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Clara Kathleen Barnett Rogers (born January 14, 1844 – died March 8, 1931) was a talented musician. She was born in England but became an American composer, singer, writer, and music teacher.
Early Life and Musical Training
Clara was born in Cheltenham, England, into a family full of musicians. Her grandfather, Robert Lindley, played the cello. Her father, John Barnett, was an opera composer and taught his children music first. Her mother, Eliza, was a singer.
When Clara was twelve, her family moved to Germany. This was so the children could get more music education. Clara was first turned down by the Leipzig Conservatory. But in 1857, they changed their minds because she was so talented. She became the youngest student ever accepted there. Two of her brothers and sisters also went to the conservatory.
While at Leipzig, Clara studied many things. She learned piano, harmony, how to write music for different parts, violin, cello, and singing. At first, girls could not take composition classes. But in 1859, the school made a special class for girls. This happened after they heard a string quartet Clara had written when she was only 13! Her classmate, Arthur Sullivan, even helped her. He copied the music parts and found musicians to play her piece. Clara studied at the Conservatory for three years. She graduated at sixteen with high honors.
Singing Career and Later Years
After finishing school, Clara decided to become an opera singer. She used the stage name Clara Doria. Her first performance was in 1863 in Turin, Italy. She sang in an opera called Robert le diable by Giacomo Meyerbeer. After touring in Italy, she spent five years singing concerts in London.
In 1871, she came to the United States. She joined the Parepa-Rosa Opera Company. She continued to sing for seven more years with different groups.
Clara's singing career ended in 1878. This was when she married Henry Munroe Rogers. He was a lawyer who lived in Boston, Massachusetts. In Boston, Clara had many artistic friends. These included famous people like Amy Beach, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow even wrote a poem just for her called “Stay at Home, My Heart, and Rest.” Clara held weekly music gatherings at her home. She also helped her artist friends get noticed.
During her marriage, Clara started teaching and composing music. She said composing was “a supreme delight.” By the early 1880s, she began publishing some of her songs. In 1888, she helped start the Boston Manuscript Club. Later, in 1895, Amy Beach invited her to join the Manuscript Club of New York.
In 1902, Clara joined the New England Conservatory. She taught singing there. She also started writing books about music. Her books included six about how to sing and three about her own life.
Clara died in 1931 in Boston. Her letters and music papers are kept at the Harvard University Library.
Musical Works
- Around 100 songs
- Four pieces for piano
- Two String Quartets
- Sonata for violin and piano
- Sonata for cello and piano
See also
In Spanish: Clara Kathlenn Rogers para niños
