cora cooper, violin
Violin Professor at Kansas State University
Commissioner of the 50 State Sonata Project and the World Sonata Project: Violin
World Sonata Project | Violin
cora cooper
kansas
Cora Cooper is a teacher, violinist, occasional violist, dedicated chamber music coach, researcher, and music publisher. Based at Kansas State University since 1990, Cooper pursues these interests both within and outside of the academic setting. Her favorite project, the graded anthology Violin Music by Women, brought together most of these skills to create four volumes of violin and piano music composed by women. Previously unavailable works from most eras and many styles are now available to players of all levels, beginning through advanced. She publishes it (and the sister anthology, Viola Music by Women) through her own company, Sleepy Puppy Press. Research on women composers also led to guest lectures in the United States and England. Cooper has presented multiple sessions at national ASTA conferences and has contributed a number of articles to the AST Journal. Her most recent project is a series of chamber works inspired by the Kronos Quartet's "50 for the Future,'' called Developing Contemporary Techniques. The works are intended to be a gentle introduction for intermediate players to the Classical music of their own time. Cooper earned graduate degrees in violin performance from Eastman and Florida State University, with principle teachers Peter Salaff, Charles Castleman, and Karen Clarke. Professional performing experience includes work with the Vermont, Austin, and Tallahassee Symphonies, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and a NAXOS recording of Charles Martin Loeffler's “Quintet for Strings” with the DaVinci String Quartet. She was greatly honored to be the Kansas representative for Ms. Boyd's 50 State Sonata Project, and is thrilled to be asked to take part in her new World Sonata Project.