Deirdre Cooper
Cello
Deirdre spent the first years of her life in Edinburgh, but it was after emigrating to the United States that she began cello lessons and extensive chamber music coaching with Colin Hampton, cellist of the Grillar String Quartet.
As a student in New York, she studied with both Bernard Greenhouse of the Beaux Arts Trio and Zara Nelsova. During this time as a student, she won a full scholarship to Aspen International Summer Music Festival and participated in Pierre Fournier’s master classes in Geneva.
Deirdre has held positions with the Scottish Ballet Orchestra as principal cellist, The BBC Scottish Symphony as sub-principal and in 2010 joined (again) the PO cello section. She has been guest principal cellist with the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, The New Queens Hall Orchestra, the English Sinfonia, Northern Sinfonia and the BBC Concert Orchestra. She is currently principal cellist with L’Orchestre Des Jardins Musicaux, Switzerland.
Alongside her orchestral work, Deirdre has continued to remain very active in all her chamber music commitments. In 1996 she joined the Smith Quartet which specializes in performing contemporary works both acoustic and with tape and/or live electronics. The quartet has commissioned many works, performed worldwide, produced recordings, and played for both radio and television. She has also enjoyed several tours with the Fidelio Trio including trips to China (2009) and the USA (2014).
Deirdre is the proud mum of 4 children Anne, Ian, Colin and Jessica.
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