Antony Cooke
| Antony Cooke | |
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Antony Cooke
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Tony Cooke |
| Born | 3 August 1948 |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | Classical |
| Instruments | Cello |
| Years active | 39 |
| Labels | Centaur Records |
Antony Cooke (born 3 August 1948, in Sydney, Australia), is an American cellist, recording artist, former university professor, composer, and author of published books and articles on musicology and astronomy. Mr. Cooke's formal music and musicology training in London and subsequent career as a professional musician and recording artist are complemented by his intensive studies into astronomy.
Antony Cooke is the son of internationally renowned cellist Nelson R. Cooke, and was born in Sydney, Australia in 1948 while his father was playing for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The family moved to London when his father was appointed principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra. Indeed, Nelson Cooke was recognized for his contributions to Australia in particular in 2011, when he was honored by the Governor-General of Australia with The Order of Australia AM, one of the highest awards that an Australian citizen can receive. Antony Cooke shares in his distinguished father's selection of the cello as a principal musical instrument; similarly, Antony Cooke has performed as a principal cellist and soloist in concerts throughout Europe and the United States.
Antony Cooke began his musical studies at the age of six, studying cello, later theory, composition, conducting and musicology, winning several music awards in London, including a Gold Medal in the venerable London Musical Competition Festival in 1966 and the "Young Musicians '73" Award. Mr. Cooke was a protégé of the Helen Just who was both a cellist of the English String Quartet and a professor at the Royal College. Mr. Cooke studied theory and historical musicology under John Wilkinson, composition under Nadia Boulanger protégé John Lambert, and conducting under Sir Colin Davis. In London, Cooke obtained Artist Diplomas from both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. As a young BBC soloist, Cooke was regularly featured as a recitalist and concerto soloist under conductors such as Colin Davis and Harry Blech, including appearances at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Bath International Music Festival. In 1971, he was consequently appointed principal cellist of England's premier chamber orchestra at the time, the London Mozart Players, making Cooke the youngest principal cellist in the country.
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