Pianist Jane Coop, one of Canada’s most prominent and distinguished artists, will perform as part of Powell River Academy of Music’s concert series on Wednesday, November 20 at Academy Hall.
Coop was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and grew up in Calgary where she began her musical education with Alexandra Munn and Gladys Egbert. For advanced studies her principal teachers were Anton Kuerti in Toronto and Leon Fleisher in Baltimore.
At the age of 19 she won first prize in the Young Performers Competition run by CBC radio, and this, along with prizes at New York’s Kosciuszko Foundation Competition and the Washington International Competition, launched her career. In the early years she made recital debuts at Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Recital Hall (now called Weill Hall), as well as giving performances with the Toronto Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Victoria Symphony and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra. In 1976 she was invited to tour the New England States as soloist with Mario Bernardi and the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Concerto in D minor, K.466.
She has played in over 20 countries, and in Canada has given concerts from north to south, east to west. She is one of only a few top pianists who has remained resident in Canada throughout her career.
Coop’s reputation has inspired international competition organizers to invite her to judge their events over the past 15 years. Her 16 recordings, three of which have been nominated for Juno awards, have garnered glowing reviews and have been heard on classical radio programs in many countries.
In December 2012, Jane Coop was appointed to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour for lifetime achievement.
Her reputation promises an entertaining evening, which begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $22 for adults and free admission for students 18 and under with a student ticket voucher. For more information readers can call the academy box office Monday through Thursday at 604.485.9633 or visit online.
