David Cohen
David Cohen is one of the most successful young cellists in Europe. He is undoubtedly one of the world's most charismatic cellists.
Born in the town of Tournai in Belgium, David made his solo debut with the Belgium National Orchestra at the age of nine.
His International career as a soloist soon flourished with the Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Soloist Chamber Orchestra, l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Liege, l'Orchestre Symphonique de la VRT, l'Orchestre de la Beethoven Akademie, l'Orchestre National de Lille, the Zurich chamber orchestra, L'Orchestre de chambre de Lauzanne, l'Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Grenoble, the Polish Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphonia of Varsaw, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, NHK, BBC Concert Orchestra...
In his remarkable career, David has worked as a soloist with some of the most distinguished conductors in the industry such as Lord Menuhin, Mislave Rostropovitch, Walter Weller, Sir Charles Mackerras, Vladimir Ashkenazy, C.V.Dohnanyi, Pedro Hallfter, Martin Brabbins ect....
His very successful solo debut in Japan with The N.H.K and Maestro V.Ashkenazy performing Tchaikowsky rococo variations in June 2007, lead him to be re-invited for the season 2009&2010.
As a graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Guidhall School of Music & Drama, thanks to a grant from the Menuhin Foundation, David won more than 25 prizes in International Cello Competitions. Amongs his prizes and awards are the Gold Medal of the GSMD in London, (like Jaqueline Dupre), The Geneva International Cello Competition, the Audi International Competition, International Cello Competition in Douai, ’Tenuto’international Competition", The Guilherminia Suggia Gift, The Ian Flaming Trust, SPES, KPMG Martin Scholarship, Hattory Foundation, Berllotti-Buitonie Fellowship award, Fondation SUISA, J.S.Bach International Competition
He was Nominated ECHO “Rising Star” for the season 2002-2003 by the “Royal Philharmonic Society of Belgium” and the “Concert Gebouw”.
He has studied with the finest cellists of this time: Wiliam Pleeth, Melissa Pheleps, Lynn Harrel, Daniil Schafran, Nathalia Gutman, Gary Hofman, Bernard Greenhouse, Steven Isserlis, Boris Pergamenschikow, Lord Menuhin, Mstislav Rostropovich and Oleg Kogan.
David is a passionate Chamber Musician, he regularly performs in major festivals with the finest young talents of Europe. He is regularly invited to International cello and chamber music festivals like Kronberg (Germany), Manchester ( U.K), Cambridge (U.K.), Beauvais (France), Orpheus Baccheus in Bordeaux ( France), the Gstaad Festival (Suisse), West Cork (Ireland) Kuhmo (Finland) Elverum (Norway) Oxford (u.k), Sonoro (Bucharest) etc....
David is the Artistic Director of the Melchior Ensemble, which brings together the greatest young talents from Europe such as Sasha Sitkovetsky, Priya Mitchel, Corine Chapelle, Silver Ainomae, Razvan Popovici ect... The ensemble is in Residence in Peter House Cambridge. David was appointed Principal Cello of the Philharmonia Orchestra in March 2001 (the youngest Principal cello ever!)
You will find award winning recordings by David with Forlane, Classic FM, Cypres-Records and the LPO Label. Future releases of his recordings of the Lutoslawsky cello concerto with the Philharmonia and the S.Gubbaidulina recording with the BBC Symphony will soon follow this year.
David plays on a magnificient Dominicus Montagnana cello circa 1735 thanks to the kindness and generosity of Mrs Pat Morton and the help from the Razumovsky trust.
“…David Cohen, one of the most talented young cellists I know. He was a student at my School for some years, and is altogether a remarkable young man, a remarkable performer and already an outstanding cellist.” Lord Menuhin (dec. 98)