Alexander Cohen, percussion, is a Cleveland native and a founding member of ChamberFest Cleveland along with his father and sister, Franklin and Diana Cohen. He studied piano and cello before gravitating to drums and the vibrant world of rock. He then devoted himself to percussion, studying at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Upon graduation, he became principal timpanist with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and acting principal timpanist with the San Diego Symphony. In 2011, he accepted the position of principal timpanist with the Calgary Philharmonic, where he shares the stage with sister Diana, concertmaster of the orchestra. As a guest timpanist, he has performed with the Marlboro Festival Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, New World Symphony, New York String Orchestra, and the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen. As a chamber musician, Mr. Cohen has performed with members of the Berlin Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He is a student of the professional training program of the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education in Boston. He performs on an American Drum Company custom set of Walter Light Mark XIV Timpani and is an Evans Drumheads artist.
