 |
 |
| |
| |
Over the past twenty years, Fred Cohen has established himself as one of the leading American composers, conductors, music educators, and music administrators of his generation. He has written many commissioned works for outstanding performers and ensembles throughout America.
Fred Cohen's music has been commissioned by such organizations as the Richmond Symphony, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra, the Shanghai Quartet, the 21st Century Ensemble, the Paul Hill Chorale, as well as numerous chamber ensembles and individual musicians. His works have been performed throughout the Americas, and in Northern and Eastern Europe. Recent performances include his String Quartet No. 1 during the 2006 Chamber Music America National Conference in New York; Great Scott!,a concerto for French horn and wind ensemble with soloist Jeffrey Scott; and Smiling Dennis, a concerto for bass clarinet and orchestra premiered by Dennis Smylie, bass clarinet, and the Colonial Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Cohen is an active conductor, having led the MSU Orchestra in 2004 and the MSU Band in 2005. From 1986 to 2001 he directed the University of Richmond Orchestra. He founded the Cornell Contemporary Ensemble in 1982, and CURRENTS, a professional new-music ensemble in residence at the University of Richmond, in 1986.
Mr. Cohen has taught at the University of Richmond (1986-2002) and Montclair State University (2002-present); in both institutions he has served as Chair of the Department of Music (1996-2001, 2002-2005, respectively). Mr. Cohen also served as the founder and director of CURRENTS, a professional new-music ensemble in Richmond (1986-2002) and the Cornell Contemporary Ensemble (1982-1986).
He received his compositional training at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he studied with David Cope and Gordon Mumma, and at Cornell University, where he worked with Karel Husa and Steven Stucky, receiving his DMA in 1986.