Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen was the long-time principal clarinet and frequent soloist with the New Orleans Symphony and its successor, the Louisiana Philharmonic, from 1975-2004 and has been principal clarinet at the Brevard Music Center since 1979. He has performed as principal clarinet with the Seoul Philharmonic on their European tour in 1988, and also has played principal clarinet with the Texas Opera Theater Orchestra, Ars Viva Symphony and is the principal clarinetist with the Music of the Baroque Orchestra in Chicago. Moving to Chicago to become clarinet professor and coordinator of the winds,brass and percussion at Northwestern University, he has played on numerous occasions with the Chicago Symphony including on Eb clarinet. He has also played with the Chicago Lyric Opera orchestra, and as a chamber musician throughout the Chicago area and beyond. He maintains a very busy schedule each year with master classes and recitals that have taken him and will take him throughout Costa Rica, Japan, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Korea, Europe and from coast to coast in the United States. He has guest taught at the Oberlin Conservatory, University of Southern California, Indiana University, University of Michigan and many other locations. Previously on the faculty of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory and Louisiana State University, he is an artist/clinician for Buffet clarinets and a Legere reed artist. He hosted the 2001 International Clarinet Association Convention in New Orleans and has written many articles for the magazine for this organization. New York City born to a Juilliard trained clarinetist, his teachers have included Loren Kitt, Larry McDonald, Karl Leister and Robert Marcellus.