Alla Elana Cohen

Position
Professor
Affiliated Departments
Faculty Bio E-Mail
Telephone
617-747-8370

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Career Highlights
  • Extensive catalogue of compositions in all the genres of instrumental and vocal music
  • Recordings include Dedications, The Route of Compassion, The Day of Atonement, The Road that Chooses Us, and Jupiter Duo
  • Compositions performed by internationally acclaimed soloist-performers, such as Sebastian Baverstam, Bianca Garcia, Moran Katz, by Ariel Quartet, JACK Quartet, and the Xanthos Ensemble
  • Annual composition recitals at the New England Conservatory of Music and Berklee
  • Faculty member of New England Conservatory of Music
  • Publications include Perfect Pitch for You, The Art of Modulation, and In the Vertical Realm
  • Her next CD "Red Lilies of Bells, Golden Lilies of Bells, White Lilies of Bells" will be released by PARMA Recordings in February 2017, under Ravello label
  • Member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
  • Released 10 CDs of music in 10 years, the last two released by PARMA Recordings, LLC, to excellent reviews in the media
  • Composition students won more than 300 awards and distinctions at various prestigious international, national, and state composers' competitions
Awards
  • Winner of the All-Union Composers’ Competition (former U.S.S.R.)
  • Winner of Director's Choice Award at International Composers' Competition
  • Winner of international prize for Excellence in Composition, awarded by National Academy of Music in conjunction with Municipal Conservatories
  • Recipient of ASCAPLUS Awards
  • Recipient of Ted Pease Excellence in Teaching Award
  • Recipient of commissions and six certificates of excellence from Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
Education
  • B.M., Moscow State Conservatory
  • M.M., Moscow State Conservatory
In Their Own Words

"Coming from Russia, I have created my teaching style by blending Russian tradition with what is valuable in American instruction and my own discoveries. I've written a book based on my own discoveries in developing pitch recognition. I have now also practically finished a book, Art of Modulation, which became the basis for a prototype course I am teaching."

"The main thing in teaching composition is to create an atmosphere in which the natural gifts of the students flourish. That atmosphere depends, I think, upon the ability to enter the world of students' compositions—to let go of your own style when you look at your students' compositions. Whenever any composer, no matter what the age, brings me a composition, as I start to play it, I forget about my own musical world and my own musical style. For that moment, I enter the mind of that person to such an extent as to be able to look at this composition as if it is mine."

"One of my goals is to prepare my students very well to continue their education. For me, the main thing, first and foremost, is that you should develop a commitment to what you are doing in music. This I brought from Russia. My teacher told me that you are totally responsible for each note that you write down on paper. What you are doing becomes a sacred thing in your life, something that makes your life worth living. In a way it is as important as your natural talent. This is a sacred service that we have for our art."

"Every time I look at a student, I dream of seeing an all-around musician. We need to make clear to our students that professionalism implies that they know a lot about everything in music. This is of crucial importance. Professionalism is the knowledge and ability to understand every aspect of music and have broad involvement in music." 

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