Warren Cohen
Encyclopedia
Warren Cohen is a Canadian composer
, conductor and pianist
currently resident in Cave Creek, Arizona
, USA, where he is the musical director of the Scottsdale
-based MusicaNova, a collection of orchestras and ensembles that are identified by a mission statement - Musica Nova means new music - rather than a geographical location. The organisation specialises in works that are newly composed or unjustly neglected.
Cohen, who has so far had a two-decade career as a musical director, and who has significantly developed every organisation with which he has been involved, studied conducting with Gustave Meier and Paul Vermel.
, Cohen studied piano with father Philip Cohen and composition privately. Cohen performed frequently as a solo pianist in the years from 1980–1990, performing over 200 works including 20 world premiere performances. At this time he was living in Hawaii
, holding the position of Music Director of the Kumu Kahua Theatre
Group, which specialized in locally themed productions. He composed music for numerous theatre productions, including ones based on the life of Princess Ka'iulani and the Aristophanes
farce Ecclesiazusae (translated as either "Women In Parliament" or "The Congresswomen").
During this period, Cohen also worked as a ballet accompanist and as an accompanist to singers. This last skill led to him being asked to conduct the orchestra for a production of the (appropriately) obscure musical "Here's Love" by Meredith Wilson in 1990. After that, he was in great demand to conduct many other productions and concert works. Cohen spent the 1991-1992 season in England
; creating a self-study program by attending rehearsals at English National Opera
and asking a lot of questions of Mark Elder
, who was Music Director at the time. Returned to Hawaii
in 1992, and worked more in Symphonic and Concert repertoire in addition to his continuing work in theatre productions. He was conductor of the revamped Hawaii Chamber Orchestra in the 1994-1995 season before leaving for England
in 1995. He was appointed Music Director of the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra in Tucson in 1996, (a position he held until 2005) and has lived in Arizona
since that time. The integrated MusicaNova concept took shape after he was appointed Music Director of the Fine Arts String Orchestra in Phoenix
in 2001, became Music Director of MusicaNova in 2003 and the MusicaNova Baroque Orchestra in 2004.
During the late nineteen-nineties and early years of the twenty-first century, Cohen has played a significant role in the resurgence of interest in the British composer, Richard Arnell
, conducting several of his symphonies in concert, as well as recording them all for imminent commercial release. The first coupling, of Symphonies 4 and 5, was made available on the Con Brio Label in March 2008.
Cohen's talent and inventiveness as both a composer and conductor has been recognized with 7 ASCAP awards for original composition, and a 1999 ASCAP/American Symphony Orchestra League’s Award for Adventurous Programming. He has conducted nearly 1000 works over the past ten seasons, with scores of regional and world premieres. Cohen continues to compose, mostly for orchestra in recent years. His compositions include three Concerto Grossos, the most recent featuring a battalion of flute
soloists. His Sonata
for Flute, Bassoon and String Quartet was premiered by Arpeggio in Scottsdale, Arizona
in January 2008.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
currently resident in Cave Creek, Arizona
Cave Creek, Arizona
Cave Creek is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona in the United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,951.-Geography:...
, USA, where he is the musical director of the Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
-based MusicaNova, a collection of orchestras and ensembles that are identified by a mission statement - Musica Nova means new music - rather than a geographical location. The organisation specialises in works that are newly composed or unjustly neglected.
Cohen, who has so far had a two-decade career as a musical director, and who has significantly developed every organisation with which he has been involved, studied conducting with Gustave Meier and Paul Vermel.
Biography
Born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Cohen studied piano with father Philip Cohen and composition privately. Cohen performed frequently as a solo pianist in the years from 1980–1990, performing over 200 works including 20 world premiere performances. At this time he was living in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, holding the position of Music Director of the Kumu Kahua Theatre
Kumu Kahua Theatre
Kumu Kahua Theatre is a community theater located in the city of Honolulu on the island of O'ahu in the state of Hawai'i. Kumu Kahua Theatre is best known for producing plays by local Hawaii-based playwrights, especially plays featuring themes and stories of the people of Hawaii. Kumu Kahua...
Group, which specialized in locally themed productions. He composed music for numerous theatre productions, including ones based on the life of Princess Ka'iulani and the Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
farce Ecclesiazusae (translated as either "Women In Parliament" or "The Congresswomen").
During this period, Cohen also worked as a ballet accompanist and as an accompanist to singers. This last skill led to him being asked to conduct the orchestra for a production of the (appropriately) obscure musical "Here's Love" by Meredith Wilson in 1990. After that, he was in great demand to conduct many other productions and concert works. Cohen spent the 1991-1992 season in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; creating a self-study program by attending rehearsals at English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
and asking a lot of questions of Mark Elder
Mark Elder
Sir Mark Philip Elder, CBE is a British conductor. He is the music director of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, England.-Biography:Elder was born in Hexham, Northumberland, England, the son of a dentist...
, who was Music Director at the time. Returned to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 1992, and worked more in Symphonic and Concert repertoire in addition to his continuing work in theatre productions. He was conductor of the revamped Hawaii Chamber Orchestra in the 1994-1995 season before leaving for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1995. He was appointed Music Director of the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra in Tucson in 1996, (a position he held until 2005) and has lived in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
since that time. The integrated MusicaNova concept took shape after he was appointed Music Director of the Fine Arts String Orchestra in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
in 2001, became Music Director of MusicaNova in 2003 and the MusicaNova Baroque Orchestra in 2004.
During the late nineteen-nineties and early years of the twenty-first century, Cohen has played a significant role in the resurgence of interest in the British composer, Richard Arnell
Richard Arnell
Richard Anthony Sayer Arnell was an English composer of classical music. Arnell composed in all the established genres for the concert stage, and his list of works includes six completed symphonies and six string quartets.-Biography:Arnell was born in Hampstead, London...
, conducting several of his symphonies in concert, as well as recording them all for imminent commercial release. The first coupling, of Symphonies 4 and 5, was made available on the Con Brio Label in March 2008.
Cohen's talent and inventiveness as both a composer and conductor has been recognized with 7 ASCAP awards for original composition, and a 1999 ASCAP/American Symphony Orchestra League’s Award for Adventurous Programming. He has conducted nearly 1000 works over the past ten seasons, with scores of regional and world premieres. Cohen continues to compose, mostly for orchestra in recent years. His compositions include three Concerto Grossos, the most recent featuring a battalion of flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
soloists. His Sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
for Flute, Bassoon and String Quartet was premiered by Arpeggio in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
in January 2008.
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- List of Canadian composers