About Me

Merit Rogge is a violist and music educator based in Houston, TX. He started his studies at a young age, quickly discovering a love of music. Rogge obtained his undergraduate degree in music education at Angelo State University, studying with Dr. Fagner Rocha, to whom he owes much of his success. His master’s degree in viola performance from the Moore’s School of Music, at the University of Houston, was completed under the tutelage of world-renowned violist, Mr. Wayne Brooks. Rogge has also participated in masterclasses run by Che-Yen Chen, Dr. Lynn Ledbetter, Annie Chalex-Boyle, among many others. Other notable influences include Dr. Daphne Gerling, Dr. Kirsten Yon, Suzanne LeFevre, Andrzej Grabiec, and Misha Quint. 

Rogge has experienced many unique performance opportunities throughout his career. Most notably, he toured Mexico with ÓperaMaya and performed with the Interharmony Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy. Other festivals attended include the Hot Springs Music Festival and the University of North Texas Summer Strings Institute.

As an orchestra musician, Rogge has been seen with the San Angelo Symphony, Abilene Civic Orchestra, as principal viola at the Frank van der Stucken Festival, as principal viola at the world premiere of “The Lady in Blue,” among many others. 

An avid chamber musician, he was violist for the premiere performance of Quartet NOVA while still an undergraduate student. In recent years, Rogge was violist for the inaugural season of Elkins Classical Series and the Humble Classical Festival with the Archer Piano Quintet. He is a frequent performer with Zelda Presents, with whom he has premiered the works of Houston-based and international composers like Stephen Yip, Andrew Schneider, Ričardas Kabelis, and Joe LoCascio. He also performs regularly with ConTempo Studios, an interdisciplinary arts group he co-founded, which has been seen at Archway Gallery, FIC’s Porch Concert Series, the Houston Saengerbund, among many others.

As a soloist, he has been featured as the guest artist at Bach and Friends in the Barrio, an outreach concert series in El Paso, TX. Most recently he made his solo Houston debut at the Lenten Recital Series at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Rogge is passionate about music education, currently teaching through Clear Creek ISD and Vivaldi Music Academy where he is an instructor in both Violin and Viola. He can be seen performing with many different groups, most frequently the Mud Turtle Guitar Quintet, Zelda Presents, and ConTempo Studios. He plays an Italian viola made by Mario Gadda and an American bow from D. W. Halsey.