About
The world-renowned cellist and conductor David Cohen embodies a unique combination of qualities making him one of the most versatile and exciting musicians of this day. He has been internationally acclaimed for his remarkable instrumental mastery, generous musicianship, vast experience in varied repertoires combined with a flamboyant charisma.Highlights of the 2024-2025 season include Davids’ appearence as a conductor with the PHION Orchestra in The Netherlands and his performance as a cellist of the Edward Elgar Cello Concerto at the Barbican Centre together with the London Symphony Orchestra and Antonio Pappano.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 leading him to perform with top-class orchestras such as 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 Lausanne, 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. Furthermore, 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.
His solo debut in Japan with The N.H.K and Maestro V.Ashkenazy performing Tchaikowsky ‘Rococo Variations’ in June 2007 has made a great impression, leading to recurring collaborations in the years to follow.
As a graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Guidhall School of Music & Drama, with the support of a grant from the Menuhin Foundation, David won more than 25 prizes in International Cello Competitions. Amongst 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.
Furthermore, David was Nominated ECHO “Rising Star” for the season 2002-2003 by the “Royal Philharmonic Society of Belgium” and the “Concertgebouw”.
Davids’ passion for chamber music has led him to regularly enjoy collaborating with fine musicians in major International cello- and chamber music festivals such as 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).
David is the Artistic Director of the Melchior Ensemble, which brings together the finest musicians from Europe such as a.o. Sasha Sitkovetsky, Priya Mitchel, Corine Chapelle, Silver Ainomae, Razvan Popovici and is the ensemble in Residence in Peter House Cambridge.
David was appointed Principal Cello of the Philharmonia Orchestra in March 2001 (making him the youngest principal cellist in the history.). He has be appointed Principal cello of the London Symphony Orchestra in 2022.
Internationally award winning discography by David is to be found with Forlane, Classic FM, Cypres-Records and the LPO Label. It includes recordings of the Lutoslawsky cello concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the S.Gubbaidulina cello concerto with the BBC Symphony.
David plays on a magnificient Dominicus Montagnana cello circa 1735 granted with kindness and generosity by Mrs. Pat Morton and with the support of the Razumovsky trust.
David is the creator and artistic director of « Les Sons Intensifs » , a vibrant chamber music festival in the home town of the famous artist Renee Magritte (Lessines, Belgium ).
A conductor of fine reputation, David has performed in several international festivals such as Kuhmo Festival, Stift Festival, Osnabruck “Con brio Festival”, Les Sons Intensifs, Belgrade Ensemble, Phion Orchestra in Netherlands. His repertoire includes composers such as P.M.Davis, P.Glass, Debussy, Gubbaidulina, Mahler, Stravinsky, Sibelius, including premiere performances and recordings of pieces by Osvaldo Golijov and Isidora Zebeljan.
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Prizes & Awards
First Grand Prix – Young Soloist National Competition in Belgium
September 1991
First Grand Prix – in Senior and Junior divisions, International Music Competition in Watrelos (France)
June 1993
First Grand Prix – Credit Communale Competition “Pro Civitate” (Belgium)
July 1994
First Grand Finalist – Audi International Musician Competition (Great Britain)
November 1995
Award – Guilhermina Suggia Gift for Cello (GB)
March 1996
Finalist – Eurovision Young Musician Competition in Lisbon (P)
June 1996
First Grand Prix – 11th International Cello Competition in Douai (F)
March 1998
First Grand Prix – Tenuto National Competition of Belgium
September 1998
Award -“Fondation Belge pour la Vocation” (B)
January 1999
Award – Hattori Foundation for young musicians (GB)
March 1999
Award – Ian Fleming Charitable Trust (GB)
March 1999
Award – Guilhermina Suggia Gift for Cello (GB)
April 1999
Award – from the City of Tournai (B)
May 1999
Award – “Fondation S.P.E.S.” (B)
September 1999
Award Winner – KPMG/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund (GB)
February 2000
Geneva International Cello Competition Special Prize, “Patrick F. Liechti” from the Fondation S.U.I.S.A. pour la Musique (CH)
December 2000
Award – “Belgium Foundation for Young Soloists” (B)
January 2001
Award – KPMG/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund (GB)
February 2001
Gold Medal winner GSMD
June 2001
Rising star award from the Royal Philharmonic Society
June 2001
Solti Foundation Award
June 2002
Borletti Buitoni Fellowship Award
September 2004
“Octave de la Musique” – Award for best classical music album
October 2002
J.S. Bach International Competition
March 2008
Knighted, “Chevalier de la Confrerie de la Toure”
June 2009
Conductors with whom David has regularly worked as a soloist:
Christopher Warren-Green, Robin O’Neil, Alice Farnham, Pascal Roffe, Lord Menuhin, Mistslav Rostropovich, Walter Weller, Sir Charles Mackerras, Christophe von Dohnanyi, Riccardo Muti, Martin Brabbins, Richard Hickox, Pedro Halffter, Vladimir Ashkenazy.
Conductors with whom David has regularly worked as a soloist:
Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Soloists 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 Sinfonia Varsovia, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Johannesbourg Philhamonic Orchestra, the Brighton Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, the N.H.K. Symphony Orchestra of Tokyo.
David is also regularly invited to lead:
London Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
London Chamber Orchestra
The Mahler Chamber Orchestra