Grant Cooper

Artistic Director & Conductor

Grant Cooper, Artistic Director and Conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, was named to the position in March, 2001, and officially began his duties as the 9th conductor in the WVSO's history on July 1, 2001. From 1997-2007, Mr. Cooper served as Resident Conductor of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, where he gave almost 600 performances with the orchestra, appearing to critical acclaim on all the major series. Mr. Cooper is also Artistic Director of a summer festival, the Bach and Beyond Festival in Fredonia , New York.

Mr. Cooper was born in Wellington , New Zealand , the son of a professional opera singer. He sang and acted in his first opera at age four, and studied piano and music theory prior to college. After completing his degree in Pure Mathematics at the University of Auckland , his performing career took him to the major concert halls of the world from Beijing to London . Following a performance at the Henry A. Wood Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall under conductor Claudio Abbado, Mr. Cooper was invited by Maestro Abbado to join the orchestra of La Scala as solo trumpet. Instead, Mr. Cooper accepted a fellowship from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council for study with Gerard Schwarz in the United States . This, in turn, led to performances in New York 's Carnegie Hall and at Tanglewood under Arthur Fiedler, where he also performed as principal trumpet under conductors Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and Sir Neville Marriner, among others.

Mr. Cooper was guest conductor of the XIVth Commonwealth Games closing ceremonies, appearing with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as soloist. In Europe , his engagement as guest conductor for the Mozart Wochen of the Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele prompted high critical praise. His appearances with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra have generated considerable enthusiasm and acclaim across the whole gamut of programs, showing his deep affinity for repertoire of enormous stylistic range. Mr. Cooper's collaborations with artists such as Hilary Hahn, Olga Kern, Midori, Elmar Oliviera, and Deborah Voigt have, similarly, prompted critical praise for his skills as an accompanist.

In past seasons, Mr. Cooper has appeared regularly as guest conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestras of Buffalo and Rochester . In recent years he has made his debuts with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Spokane Symphony, the Erie Philharmonic, the Kansas City Symphony, as well as with the Stamford (CT), Modesto (CA), and Youngstown (OH) Symphony Orchestras. He returned to New Zealand to conduct the millennium celebrations there with the Auckland Philharmonia. He has appeared as guest conductor to Ottawa 's Thirteen Strings for many seasons and conducted several engagements with Syracuse Opera, including “Cosi fan Tutte,” “The Barber of Sevillle,” and "The Marriage of Figaro." With the WVSO, Cooper's operatic repertoire has also included “Tosca” and “Carmen.” This season, Mr. Cooper will guest conduct the Jacksonville (FL), Elgin (IL), and Wichita (KS) Symphony Orchestras.   

A commissioned composer, Mr. Cooper's most recently completed new work is for soprano and orchestra. Entitled "A Song of Longing, Though..." with poetry by Tom Beal, it was performed by the WVSO in April 2007. He is especially passionate about creating works designed to introduce young audiences to the orchestra, including such works as "Rumpelstiltzkin" for narrator and orchestra, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "Boyz in the Wood," for Coloratura Soprano and Rap Singer, and "Song of the Wolf." His educational music is an eclectic blend of modern and established styles with interactive participation of the audience. Mr. Cooper's compositional style reflects his belief that orchestral music is a living, vital, and relevant part of our society, able to be appreciated by all.

Mr. Cooper's first arrangement for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," was premiered at Symphony Sunday in June, 2002 and has found a permanent place in the orchestra's repertoire. Further arrangements celebrating our Appalachian heritage and the WVSO's role in honoring our shared cultural values include “ West Virginia 's Home to Me” and “The West Virginia Hills.” The orchestra also commissioned Mr. Cooper to write arrangements for Holiday Pops concerts in 2004 and in 2005. He has continued to create new music for these concerts in each successive season.

Mr. Cooper has recorded for Delos International, Atoll, Ode, Mark, and Kiwi Pacific recordings. As a conductor, a CD devoted to the premier recordings of the string music of New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn has been enthusiastically received. Recently, Mr. Cooper released “Points in a Changing Circle,” featuring him as trumpet soloist in works by New Zealand composers and a CD featuring three of his own works recorded with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra on a disc titled “Boyz in the Wood.” With this, Mr. Cooper has reached the milestone of having CD recordings of him as conductor, performer, and composer, all currently available in the catalogue.

Mr. Cooper resides in Charleston with his wife, Margie, and daughters, Jessica and Rachel.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR GRANT COOPER AND THE WVSO

“ New conductor Grant Cooper has been added to this established orchestra and together they make music better than I ever dared imagine.”      - Charleston Daily Mail (September 2001)

“…first-rate music making with plenty of poetry and power... the orchestra sounded polished and confident”           - Charleston Gazette (September 2001)

“All sections of the orchestra soared like eagles under the confident hand of Cooper.”

            -   Charleston Daily Mail (April 2002)

“The results were magical, a new high for the orchestra's quality of performance.”

               - Charleston Gazette (April 2002)

“Cooper's orchestra attained that luxurious amber varnish tone of a fine Central European orchestra”                 - Charleston Daily Mail (February 2003)