Wagner, Roger (Francis)

Wagner, Roger (Francis) (16 Jan 1914–1989) This French-born organist and conductor was born in Le Puy. He came to the U.S. as a child, and as a young man, studied the priesthood in Santa Barbara, California, then returned to France for organ studies with Marcel Dupre. He returned to Los Angeles in 1937 as organist and choirmaster at St. Joseph’s Church. In later years, he took classes and seminars at UCLA and USC in philosophy and French literature. He also studied conducting with Otto…