Violin Teacher Rachel Cooper chosen by Nicola Benedetti for Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Emerging Artist Award at its 5th Annual Women in Classical Music Symposium

Nicola Benedetti, Rachel Cooper
(Photos: Franz Galo, The Shannons Photography)

Amazingly, Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Women in Classical Music Symposium is the only formal gathering to discuss issues specific to women in the field of classical music. Since its launch in 2019, the symposium has featured panel discussions and presentations from leading women in the industry, including conductors, composers, performers, educators and administrators.

The fifth annual symposium took place from 12 to 15 November 2023 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas. Central to the symposium is the Award of Excellence, presented to a woman in the field who has paved the way for others and is investing in the future of the industry. This year's awardee was violinist Nicola Benedetti. 

As part of the symposium, the Award of Excellence honouree chooses a recipient for the Emerging Artist Award, which comes with a cash award. Nicola Benedetti chose Rachel Cooper, a violin teacher dedicated to creating fun and meaningful ways to teach young people core technical and musical foundations. 

Since graduating with her Masters from the Royal College of Music in 2014, Rachel has built up a varied portfolio of teaching. Rachel is a trained Suzuki Violin teacher working as a Violin/Viola and Chamber Music Coach at Junior Guildhall, a violin teacher for London based charity Music Masters and a violin tutor, mentor and teacher trainer for The Benedetti Foundation, Nicola Benedetti’s music education charity.

Further information from the symposium website.