Background

Ukrainian-American violist Matthew Cohen is a dynamic and versatile artist whose captivating performances have made him one of the most sought-after violists of his generation. 

He was a special prize winner at the prestigious Primrose International Viola Competition as well as garnering top prizes at the Città di Cremona International Viola Competition in Italy, Vivo International Music Competition and the Art of Duo International Competition. Particularly interested in advocating for the viola as a unique voice, he is challenging the misconception that the viola has a limited repertoire by bringing attention to lesser-known gems as well as arrangements of other masterworks.

Since his first performance in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium was at the age of 15 as a soloist in the New York premiere of Tomas Svoboda’s Sonata No. 2 for orchestra and solo string quartet, he has concertized as a soloist  with orchestras such as the Gstaad Festival Orchestra, I Virtuosi Italiani, the Juilliard Orchestra, Symphony in C, the North Shore Symphony Orchestra, the Colburn Orchestra, the Oregon Sinfonietta and gave the world premiere of internationally recognized video game score composer Garry Schyman’s viola concerto “Zingaro” with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.  Recent engagements include performances at Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Taipei’s National Concert Hall and recitals in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and Vancouver. Upcoming projects include a viola and piano album on the Centaur label titled “Viola Americana” featuring works by American composers as well as composers who emigrated to America.

A passionate chamber musician, Cohen has performed alongside many distinguished artists including members of ensembles such as the Aeolus, Borromeo, Escher, Formosa, Guarneri, Jasper, Orion, Parker, Tokyo, and Vermeer string quartets and the Beaux Arts, Horszowski and Tempest piano trios. He is on the artist roster of CreArtBox and New Asia Chamber Music Society in New York City and is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Opus 71 Concerts, a multidisciplinary concert series near New York’s Lincoln Center.

As a graduate of the Juilliard School's Master of Music program, he was the proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship; he earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Cleveland Institute of Music and received an Artist Diploma from Colburn Conservatory where he studied with Misha Amory, Heidi Castleman, Paul Coletti, Jeffrey Irvine, and Cynthia Phelps.   

His recording of York Bowen’s Phantasy for viola and piano is available on the Soundset label.  In addition to his musical activities, he enjoys public speaking and has acted in a number of plays including various works of Shakespeare, Peter Pan, Auntie Mame, and the musical Bugsy Malone.

- PLEASE DO NOT ALTER WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION -

“MR. COHEN PERFORMED [THE BARTOK VIOLA CONCERTO] WITH IMMACULATE TECHNIQUE AND FEELING.”

-ConcertoNet.com