Christopher Cooley

Bio

Christopher Cooley began playing piano at the age of seven and made his orchestral debut at age 15 with the Florida Youth Orchestra. He holds degrees from Florida State University, the University of Texas-Austin, and a doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Heasook Rhee. As a soloist, he has played with the University of Texas Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Florida, and the Musica Bella Orchestra of New York. As an accompanist, he has served as a staff pianist at institutions all over the world. He has also played with various instrumental and vocal soloists in Italy, Germany, Austria, England, Russia, South Africa, Peru, Japan, and Korea, as well as Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center) in New York City, where he lives. Cooley is a composer in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. His song, “Completely Different Place,” written with lyricist Benj Pasek, has been recorded by Tony Award nominee Kelli O’Hara, and is part of the soon-to-be-released BMI compilation CD No More Revivals.