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Nelson Cooke

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For the Australian politician, see Marshall Cooke.

Nelson Cooke
AM
Birth nameNelson Ripley Cooke
Born(1919-12-21)21 December 1919
Bellbird, New South Wales, Australia
Died7 February 2018(2018-02-07) (aged 98)
Occupation(s)Principal cellist, London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
InstrumentCello
Years active1950s – c. 2009

Nelson Ripley Cooke AM (21 December 1919 – 7 February 2018)[1] was an Australian cellist who was principal cellist at the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras during the 1950s and 1960s.

Career

Cooke was born in Bellbird, New South Wales, Australia.[2] He began playing the cello aged 8, having previously been a piano player.[2][1] At one time, he was taught by Jascha Gopinko.[3]

During the Second World War, Cooke served in the Australian Defence Force, during which time he visited Papua New Guinea and the Soloman Islands.[2] In 1949, Cooke travelled to the UK to be taught by Pablo Casals. Cooke was a principal cellist in the London Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s, making him the first Australian cellist at the orchestra. In the 1960s, he became principal cellist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[2][1] In 1968, Cooke began teaching at the University of South Florida.[4] In 1970, he became principle cellist for the Florida Orchestra.[5] He later became Head of Strings at the Canberra School of Music,[1][4] and in the 1990s, he worked as a music teacher at the University of Melbourne.[6]

In 1988, Cooke founded the Riverina Summer School for Strings.[4] Cooke retired from playing the cello at the age of 90.[1] In 2011, Cooke was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the New Years Honours List.[2][1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Obiturary: Nelson Cooke 1919–2018". London Symphony Orchestra. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mark, David (13 June 2011). "91-yr-old cellist and war veteran awarded". ABC. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  3. ^ Griffin, Helga M. (1996). "Gopinko, Jascha (1891–1980)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 14. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "DEATH OF A PRINCIPAL CELLIST, 98". Slipped Disc. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Symphony features Nelson Cooke tonight". The Tampa Tribune. 3 December 1970. p. 66. Retrieved 11 December 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Cello maker sends a gift for talent he has not seen". The Age. 11 January 1993. p. 6. Retrieved 11 December 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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