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The American baritone, Jonathan F. Cooper, Jonathan obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio (2008-2012). He studied there with Marc Weagraff. There he performed Pausanias in Chabrier’s Une éducation manquée, Leporello in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, Colline in La Bohème, Dr. Gibbs in Ned Rorem’s Our Town, and Mr. Gobineau in The Medium. He obtained his Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) (2012-2014), where he studied with acclaimed baritone, William McGraw. Appearances at CCM include baritone soloist in J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245), baritone soloist in Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and in “The Monteverdi Project” as both a vocal soloist and harpsichord continuist. As a Professional Artist at SongFest (Young Artist 2011; Professional Artist 2012), he participated in master-classes and coached with pianists Margot Garrett, Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, and Roger Vignoles, composers Jake Heggie, Libby Larsen, Mohammed Fairouz, and John Musto, and singers William Sharp and Lisa Saffer. At SongFest he was chosen to perform John Musto's Shadow of the Blues with the composer at the piano.
Jonathan Cooper has performed as a soloist with the Lute Society of America in Gagliano’s La Dafne and in Dietrich Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri at the Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival (broadcast live on WCLV 104.9 FM). In demand as a choral singer, he has sung and recorded with Quire Cleveland and Apollo's Fire, The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra (Director: Jeannette Sorrell). He sung regularly with the Trinity Chamber Singers (Cleveland), and sang at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Cincinnati. He also appeared on the emerging artist concert series at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland as both a singer and a pianist (September 2009-June 2012).
An early music specialist, Jonathan Cooper has performed regularly as bass soloist with Collegium Cincinnati, The Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas, Trinity Chamber Orchestra (Cleveland, Ohio) and Christ Church Cathedral Choir (August 2012-August 2015). His rendition of BWV 82 as part of the inaugural Cincinnati Bach Festival with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra principal oboist, Dwight Parry, was acclaimed as demonstrating “a dark, caressing voice” with “just the right edge to it.” One recent highlight included Der Tod (Death) in Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis, composed in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1943), and performed as a part of the Cincinnati Chamber Opera’s “Theresienstadt Opera Project.” He has also performed in Charpentier’s Le Reniement de St. Pierre, Jesus in Arvo Pärt’s PASSIO, Jesus in Heinrich Schütz’ St. John Passion, and soloist in George Frideric Handel’s Messiah and J.S. Bach's Cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra (Cleveland, Ohio). An experienced recitalist, he was a “highlight” of concert:nova’s “re:member” concert where he performed songs of English composer George Butterworth.
Jonathan Cooper served as Director of Communications at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, where he also sang regularly on the Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas: Bach Vespers Series and in the St. Thomas Parish Choir (September 2015-June 2017). Since June 2017, he is Communications Manager at National Association of Episcopal Schools in New York City. From time to time, he can also can be found playing electric, acoustic and bass guitar when the opportunity arises! He currenmtly lives in New York City. |
