Ian Cooper (violinist)

Ian Cooper (born 14 August 1970) is an Australian violinist. He was commissioned to compose the "Tin Symphony" for the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney and is a performer of many musical styles including Classical, Gypsy, Jazz, Irish & Country music. He has performed with Silverchair, Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Deni Hines, Olivia Newton-John, Barry White, and Simon Tedeschi.

Background
Cooper began learning the violin at age 4 from his mother Jan Cooper, a Suzuki Violin teacher. He performed the Seitz Violin Concerto No. 2 Allegro Moderator at age 6 on the Seven Network's 11AM program with Roger Climpson. At age 7, Cooper performed concerts in the USA, including in Hawaii, representing Australia at the Suzuki Violin World Conference. At age 8, he was awarded a scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he studied with Christopher Kimber, Harry Kurby, and Laslo Kiss. He subsequently was awarded a music scholarship to Knox Grammar School where he studied drums and percussion. At age 10, his performance in Japan was broadcast on NHK Television. In 1990, Cooper was mentored by the French Jazz Violinist Stéphane Grappelli. After performing with the guitarist Tommy Emmanuel at his invitation at the Sydney Opera House in 1992, Cooper joined Emmanuel on tour until 1997. Cooper has also been a member of trumpeter James Morrison's sextet since 2007.

Instruments
Cooper's main violin was made by E.H. Roth in Markneukirchen, Germany in 1926 and is modeled on an Antonio Stradivari 1714 Cremona instrument. His electric violins are Epoch, Guscott and E.F. Keebler.

Discography

 * 1993 - Soundpost - with Ike Isaacs, Peter Inglis & Tim Rollinson
 * 1994 - Strings of Swing - with Don Burrows, Tom Baker & Ian Date
 * 1995 - Ian's World - with Tom Baker, Ian Date, Bernard Berkhout & John Morrison
 * 1996 - At Home - with David Paquette
 * 1997 - Hard Axe to Follow - with Tommy Emmanuel, Tommy Tycho, George Golla & Ian Date
 * 2002 - Big Band - with James Morrison
 * 2007 - Simon Tedeschi & Ian Cooper - with Simon Tedeschi
 * 2009 - Straight to the Pool Room - with The Smokin' Crawdads
 * 2009 - Ballads and Bossa Nova with James Morrison, Emma Pask, Jim Pennell, Steve Brien, Paul Cutlan & Phil Stack
 * 2009 - Quintet with Simon Tedeschi & James Morrison

Awards and recognition

 * MO Award - Variety Instrumental Performer of the year - 1999
 * MO Award - Variety Instrumental Performer of the year - 2000
 * ACE Award - Instrumental Act of the year, 1999
 * ACE Award - Instrumentalist of the year, 2000
 * Golden Fiddle Award - Best CD by a fiddler as soloist - 2005
 * Golden Fiddle Award - Best fiddler soloist - 2006
 * Golden Fiddle Award - Best CD by a fiddler as soloist - 2006, for "Ian Cooper - Big Band"
 * Queensland Country Music Awards - Queensland Group or Duo of the Year - 2010 - The Smokin' Crawdads