Rock Of Ages – SA/SSA/SSAA

Though not the tune that we normally associate with this text, this one is truly beautiful. For women’s voices with piano, the work is also available for mixed voices (HMC1539) or in a wonderful setting for male chorus (HMC1842).
About Dr. Michael Cox

Dr. Michael Cox is an award-winning American composer, conductor, pianist, and music educator whose published works encompass choral music, church music, piano repertoire, orchestral compositions, and instrumental works. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, he serves as Composer-in-Residence at Broadway Baptist Church, where his creative work remains closely connected to worship, sacred texts, and the musicians who bring new music to life.

With more than 160 published compositions, Dr. Cox has developed an extensive and varied catalog for singers and instrumentalists. His choral music includes sacred anthems, psalm settings, hymn arrangements, concert works, and compositions for mixed, treble, and men’s voices. His instrumental writing includes music for piano, strings, brass, chamber ensembles, and orchestra. Whether composing for a church choir, university ensemble, community orchestra, or individual performer, he writes with a practical understanding of how music must function in rehearsal and performance.

Dr. Cox’s background as a pianist, conductor, and teacher has played an important role in shaping his work as a composer. He earned a Bachelor of Music with honors in piano performance from Oklahoma Baptist University, a Master of Music in orchestral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a Doctor of Music in composition from Florida State University. This combination of performance, conducting, and composition studies prepared him to understand music from the perspectives of the creator, interpreter, and performer.

Oklahoma Baptist University became an important center of Dr. Cox’s early professional life. After graduating from OBU, he returned to the university as a faculty member and taught composition, conducting, music theory, and church music from 1972 to 1990. He also directed the Bison Glee Club for 13 years, contributing to one of Oklahoma Baptist University’s longest-standing musical traditions. His work with the men’s chorus brought together musical training, performance, fellowship, and service while influencing students who later pursued careers in music, ministry, education, and the performing arts.

Dr. Cox’s relationship with Oklahoma Baptist University continued through his compositions. In 2004, OBU presented his Symphonic Psalms as its annual Oratorio Project. The eight-movement work for chorus and orchestra draws upon texts from Psalms 8, 23, 47, 90, 95, 103, 117, and 148. Its contrasting movements range from stately, hymn-like writing to music characterized by rhythmic energy and syncopation. The work was commissioned by Scott Oyer, a former student of Dr. Cox and a member of the Bison Glee Club, creating a meaningful connection between Dr. Cox’s legacy as a teacher and his continuing work as a composer.

In 1990, Dr. Cox joined the School of Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He served as Professor of Music Theory and Composition until his retirement in 2009, helping students understand the structure, craft, and expressive possibilities of music. He also directed the Southwestern Seminary Men’s Chorus, combining his academic work with the practical responsibilities of selecting repertoire, preparing singers, and shaping ensemble performances.

Dr. Cox has maintained an active career as a choral and orchestral conductor. At Oklahoma Baptist University, he conducted the annual Concerto-Aria Competition, which featured student soloists performing with musicians from the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra. He has led choral clinics throughout the United States and has appeared as a guest conductor with the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra and the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving. These experiences have given him firsthand knowledge of student, church, community, and professional musicians.

His contributions to American choral and instrumental music have received sustained professional recognition. Dr. Cox has received an ASCAP Standard Award annually since 1987, and in 1995 he was selected as the commissioned composer of the Texas Music Teachers Association. The TMTA commissioning program encourages the creation and performance of new music by American composers and introduces each commissioned work at the association’s annual convention.

In addition to composing, conducting, performing, and teaching, Dr. Cox has worked as a professional music copyist and engraver. Music engraving requires precision, patience, and a detailed knowledge of how notation communicates with performers. This work reflects the thoroughness that has characterized his entire career: Dr. Cox understands not only how music is imagined, but also how it must be prepared, studied, rehearsed, and ultimately shared with an audience.

Through his sacred choral music, piano compositions, instrumental works, teaching, and conducting, Dr. Michael Cox has built a musical legacy grounded in craftsmanship and service. His career demonstrates the many ways a composer can influence musical life—not only through published scores, but through the students, performers, churches, universities, and community ensembles that continue to give those scores a voice.