Photo: Stefan Bremer

David Cohen

David Cohen made his debut as a soloist with the National Orchestra of Belgium aged just nine. Before settling for the cello he had tried his hand at virtually all the instruments of the orchestra. His teachers have included Oleg Kagan, William Pleeth, Natalia Gutman, Gary Hoffman, Melissa Phelps, Lynn Harrel, Daniil Shafran, Bernard Greenhouse, Steven Isserlis, Boris Pergamenschikow, Yehudi Menuhin, and Mstislav Rostropovich. Cohen won a large number of competitions in his childhood and youth. In 2001 he was appointed principal cellist with the London Philharmonia, the youngest person ever to hold that position. He tours the world as soloist with first-rate orchestras, and also teaches. Although he enjoys the glamour of the concert hall, in social situations and celebrations he stays very much in the background. David Cohen plays a Dominicus Montagnana cello from 1735. He is also a fast skier and a nifty tennis player.