Biography

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David Cohen is one of the most successful young cellist 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…

David at 9years oldIn his remarkable career, David has worked as a soloist with some of the most distinguished conductors in the industry such as Lord Menuhin, Mstislav 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, thanks to a grant from the Menuhin Foundation, and also Graduate from the Guidhall School of Music & Drama, 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, Hattori 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: 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, Corinne Chapelle, Silver Ainomae, Razvan Popovici ect… The ensemble is in Residence at Peter House Cambridge.Photolux Myriam

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)

Awards & Honours:

Sept 1991
First Grand Prix in Young Soloist National Competition in Belgium
June l993
First Grand Prix in the Senior and the Junior International Music Competition in Wathrelos (France)
July 1994
First Prix-Credit Communale Competition “Pro Civitate” (Belgium)Nov 1995
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First Grand Finalist- Audi International Musician Competition (Great Britain)
March 1996
Award- Guilherminia Suggia Gift for Cello (GB)
June l996
Finalist- Eurovision Young Musician Competitîon in Lisbon (P)
March 1998
First Grand Prix- 11 th International Cello Competition in Douai (F)
Sept 1998
First Grand Prix- Tenuto National Competition of Belgium
January 1999
Award-“Fondation Belge pour la Vocation” (B)
March 1999
Award- Hattori Foudation fro young musicians (GB)
March 1999
Award- lan Fleming Charitable Trust (GB)
April 1999
Award- Guilherrminia Suggia Gift for Cello (GB)
May 1999
Award- from the City of Tournai (B)
Sept 1999
Award- “Fondation S.P.E.S (B)
Feb 2000
Award Winner- KPMG/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund (GB)
Dec 2000
Geneva International Cello Competition Special Prize “Patrick F.Liechti” from the Fondation S.U.I.S.A pour la Musicque (CH)

January 2001
Award from “Belgium Foundation for Young Soloists” (B)
Feb 2001
Award-KPMG/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund (GB)
June 2001
Gold Medal winner GSMD
June2001
Risisng star award from the Royal Philharmonique Society
June 2002
Solti Foundation award
Sept 2004
Berlotti Buitonie Fellowship Award
Oct 2002
Octave de la musique for best classical music album
March 2008
J.S Bach International Competition
June 2009
Knighted “Chevalier de la Confrerie de la Toure”

Conductors that David has worked regularly with are :

Christopher Warren-Green, Robin O’Neil, Alice Farnham, Pascal Roffe, Lord Menuhin, Mitslave Rostropovitch, Walter Weller, Sir Charles Mackerras, C.V.Dohnanyi, Riccardo Muti, Martin Brabbins, Richard Hickox, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Orchestras that David has worked with regularly as a soloist :

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,The Worthing Symphony Orchestra, The RTE Symphony Orchestra, The Quindao Symphony Orchestra, 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 Ortchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, The London Philharmonique Orchestra, Johannesbourg Philhamoniqu Orchestra, the Brighton Philharmonique, The Philharmonia, NHK Tokyo etc…

David is also regularly invited to lead :

The BBC Symphony Orchestra

London Philharmonique Orchestra

Royal Philharmonique Orchestra

English Chamber Orchestra

London Chamber Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

The Malher Chamber Orchestra