Ian Cooper

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.

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 1999 – The Backsliders - Poverty Deluxe 2000 – The Games of the XXVII Olympiad 2000: Music from the Opening Ceremony CD & DVD 2002 – Big Band – with James Morrison 2002 – Geoff Achison - Chasing My Tail 2005 – John Farnham - I Remember When I Was Young: Songs from the Great Australian Songbook 2007 – Simon Tedeschi & Ian Cooper – with Simon Tedeschi 2007 – Deni Hines & James Morrison - The Other Woman 2008 – Melinda Schneider - Be Yourself 2008 – Olivia Newton-John - A Celebration in Song 2008 – Deni Hines & James Morrison - The Other Woman – Live DVD 2008 – Melinda Schneider - Hits & Rarities 2009 – The Smokin' Crawdads - Straight to the Pool Room 2009 – Ballads and Bossa Nova with James Morrison, Emma Pask, Jim Pennell, Steve Brien, Paul Cutlan & Phil Stack 2009 – Quintet with Simon Tedeschi & James Morrison 2010 – The Idea of North & James Morrison - Feels Like Spring 2010 – Hoodoo Gurus - Purity of Essence 2011 – Melinda Schneider - Life Begins at 40 2012 – The Idea of North - This Christmas 2013 – Nathan Leigh Jones - I'll Be Home for Christmas 2014 – Richard Ingham - A Return to Home 2015 – Just Passing Through – with Tommy Emmanuel and Ian Date 2015 – Emma Pask - Cosita Divina 2015 – Mayhem 101 - Six Stars & the Union Jack 2015 – Richard Ingham - Almost Wordless 2016 – Melinda Schneider - Melinda Does Doris Again 2020 – Qantas Airways - Qantas In-Flight Safety Video 2020 – Husky - Go Don't Stop 2022 – Cats in Space - Kickstart the Sun

Awards and recognition Ace Awards (wins only) 1999 Ian Cooper Instrumental Act of the Year 2000 Ian Cooper Instrumental Act of the Year 2016 Ian Cooper Instrumental Act of the Year

Golden Fiddle Awards (wins only) 2005 Ian Cooper Best CD by a fiddler as soloist

Ian Cooper Best fiddler soloist Ian Cooper - Big Band Best CD by a fiddler as soloist

Ian Cooper Best fiddler as a soloist Ian Cooper's International Spectacular Best Band

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 (wins only) 1998 Ian Cooper Instrumental Performer of the Year 1999 Ian Cooper Instrumental Performer of the Year