Ian Cooper (born 14 August 1970) is an Australian violinist. He was commissioned to compose and perform the "Tin Symphony" for the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney. The event was televised worldwide with an estimated 2.85 billion viewers. He performs many musical styles including classical, gypsy, jazz, Irish and country music and has appeared with Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Olivia Newton-John, Barry White, Simon Tedeschi, Deni Hines, and Silverchair.
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Background
Cooper began learning the violin at age 4 from his mother Jan Cooper, a Suzuki method violin teacher. He performed the Seitz Violin Concerto No. 2 Allegro Moderato at age 6 on the Seven Network's 11AM program with Roger Climpson. At age 7, Cooper performed concerts in the US and Canada, representing Australia at the Suzuki Violin World Conference. At age 8, he was awarded a scholarship to the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in Sydney where he studied with Christopher Kimber, Harry Curby and Laszlo Kiss. He was subsequently awarded a music scholarship to Knox Grammar School where he also studied drums and percussion. At age 10, a 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 performing violin was made by E.H. Roth in Markneukirchen, Germany in 1926 and is modelled on an Antonio Stradivari 1714 Cremona instrument. His preferred violin for recording was made by Glanville & Co. in Sydney and is based on a Guarneri violin. His electric violins are Epoch, David 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
1994 – Royal Flush – with Bernard Berkhout and Ian Date
1994 – Marcia Hines - Right Here and Now
1994 – Max Sharam - Coma
1994 – Chocolate Starfish - Box
1995 – Ian's World – with Tom Baker, Ian Date, Bernard Berkhout & John Morrison
1995 – The Backsliders - Wide Open
1995 – Tim Rogers & You Am I - Jewels & Bullets CD Single
1995 – 25th Breda Jazz Festival Official CD with Fapy Lafertin & Ian Date
1995 – Max Sharam - A Million Year Girl
1996 – Annie Crummer - Seventh Wave
1996 – Silverchair - Freak Show
1996 – At Home – with David Paquette
1997 – Hard Axe to Follow – with Tommy Emmanuel, Tommy Tycho, George Golla & Ian Date
1997 – The Nissan Cedrics - Going for a Song
1997 – The Earthmen - Love Walked In
1997 – John Morrison - Swingin' Upstairs
Awards and recognition
Mo Awards
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Ian Cooper won two awards in that time