Gregory Cohen
Lecturer and Percussion Coordinator
Music
School of Music and Dance
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
SDSU
Primary Email: [email protected]
Secondary Email: [email protected]
Phone/Fax
Primary Phone: 619-594-6031
Building/Location
Music - 116
Bio
Gregory Cohen joined the San Diego Symphony Orchestra as Principal Percussionist in October 2008 after serving as acting principal the previous season. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Cohen received his Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from Boston University and his Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. Prior to his work with the SDSO, Mr. Cohen was privileged to work and train at several music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Center, National Repertory Orchestra, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and the National Orchestral Institute.
Mr. Cohen has performed with such notable orchestras as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, L.A. Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and the Kansas City Symphony. Throughout his career, he has played for many conductors including Jahja Ling, James Levine, Kurt Masur, Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Robert Spano, Seiji Ozawa, Leonard Slatkin, Charles Dutoit, and David Robertson. He has travelled across the Atlantic and Pacific to perform in renowned halls in Germany and China. Mr. Cohen has performed all over the United States, including Carnegie Hall.
As a graduate student at NEC, Mr. Cohen gave a solo recital in Boston’s Jordan Hall. He has recorded on Telarc, Reference Recordings, Albany Records and Mode Records labels; he is also a Zildjian and Dragonfly percussion orchestral artist.
Besides his work at the SDSO, Mr. Cohen became a Lecturer at San Diego State University in the fall of 2009 where he teaches applied lessons. In addition, he serves as the percussion area coordinator and directs the school’s percussion ensemble. His students have won numerous competitions and have achieved many accolades.
In his spare time, Mr. Cohen enjoys cooking new recipes with his family and sailing the fine waters of San Diego Bay.
Education
- MM, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA
- BM, Boston University, Boston, MA