John Cooper

John Cooper has served as Professor of Music and Composer in Residence at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor since 1989. Previously he held positions at the University of Pennsylvania, and Lincoln University. This is his 30th year as a music educator. Cooper publishes his classical work exclusively with Dorn Publishing, and will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Saxophone Journal. Donald Sinta, world renowned classical saxophonist, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, has commented on Cooper's 1st Sonata for Alto Saxophone: "I love it. It's from the heart and I identify with all of it." Cooper's 1982 text on Jazz Improvisation, "Steps Ahead" has recently been reprinted by request for use by the Rowan University Jazz Program, under the direction of renowned saxophonist Denis DiBlasio.

Cooper has served as conductor of the Maine All State Jazz Band in 1995, and the Maine All State Jazz Honors Band in 1999, and has been contracted to conduct the Maine All State Jazz Combo in 2005.

COOPER'S PBS FILM SCORES:
"Maine Biographies: LL Bean" This 2002 documentary is a first in a series of films about notable Maine figures to be shown on Maine PBS.

"A Sense of Time, a Sense of Place" This 2001 documentary profiled the Maine Island of Little Cranberry and it's history, and featured former NBC news correspondent and host of A & E's Biography, Jack Perkins.

"Air Maine" This 2000 documentary features former NBC news correspondent and host of

A & E's Biography, Jack Perkins. (Shown on PBS television stations across New England).

"Kathadin, Mountain of the People" This 1999 documentary profiling Mount Kathadin and Baxter State Park in Maine features former NBC news correspondent and host of A & E's Biography, Jack Perkins.

"Light Spirits" This 1997 documentary profiling the lighthouses of Maine features former NBC news correspondent and host of A & E's Biography, Jack Perkins. (Shown on PBS television stations across New England).

"Wild Maine, an Eco-tourism Guide" This 1996 documentary features CNN correspondent Jennifer Skiff. (Shown on PBS television stations across New England).

"High on Maine" This 1995 documentary features former NBC news correspondent and host of

"Maine, America's Coast" This 1994 documentary features former NBC news correspondent and host of A & E's Biography, Jack Perkins. (Shown on PBS television stations across New England).

"The Gift of Acadia" This 1991 documentary about Acadia National Park features former NBC news correspondent and host of A & E's Biography, Jack Perkins. (Shown on PBS television stations across America as well as Singapore).

Cooper's Published Works for Saxophone:
(Dorn Publishing www.dornpub.com )

Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano

Sonata No. 2 for Alto Saxophone and Piano

Caprice for Tenor Saxophone and Piano

Eluengations for Alto Saxophone and Piano

for Saxophone Quartet:

Episodes in Abstract Angles of Indigo

Freedom The Inevitable Path

Juxtapositions Cascades and Shadows

Prelude and Unpaired Dance Burn ma Soul

The Third Temperament Lullaby and Lexicon Dance

Acadia Rag Variations on a Noble Theme

Objectivist Dance Of Silver Rain

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:
Saxophonist (Woodwinds), Bassist, Jazz Vocalist, Brass Doubles, and Synthesist/Pianist(MIDI Keyboards) with an active performance schedule that has included the major venues in Philadelphia /Baltimore and the casinos of Atlantic City, as well as the Maine Center for the Arts and various sites in Downeast Maine. Have performed with the following notable jazz artists: Cecil Payne, Neville York(Steel Drum Artist), Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Watrous, Marvin Stamm, Jim Snidero, Charlie Ventura, Al Cohn, Clark Terry

John's website: http://www.coa.edu/jcooper/