David Cohen

The world-renowned cellist and conductor David Cohen embodies a unique combination of qualities making him one of the most versatile and exciting musicians of this day. He has been internationally  acclaimed  for his remarkable instrumental mastery, generous musicianship, vast experience in varied repertoires combined with a  flamboyant charisma.

Highlights of the 2024-2025 season include Davids’ appearence as a conductor with the PHION Orchestra in The Netherlands and his performance as a cellist of the Edward Elgar Cello Concerto at the Barbican Centre together with the London Symphony Orchestra and Antonio Pappano.

Born in the town of Tournai in Belgium, David made his solo debut with the Belgium National Orchestra at the age of nine. His international career as a soloist soon flourished leading him to perform with top-class orchestras such as the Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Soloist Chamber Orchestra, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Liege, l’Orchestre Symphonique de la VRT, l’Orchestre de la Beethoven Akademie, l’Orchestre National de Lille, the Zurich chamber orchestra, L’Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne, l’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Grenoble, the Polish Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphonia of Varsaw, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, NHK, BBC Concert Orchestra.  Furthermore, David has worked as a soloist with some of the most distinguished conductors in the industry such as Lord Menuhin, Mislave Rostropovitch, Walter Weller, Sir Charles Mackerras, Vladimir Ashkenazy, C.V.Dohnanyi, Pedro Hallfter, Martin Brabbins.

His solo debut in Japan with The N.H.K and Maestro V.Ashkenazy performing Tchaikowsky ‘Rococo Variations’ in June 2007 has made a great impression, leading to  recurring collaborations in the years to follow.

As a graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Guidhall School of Music & Drama, with the support of a grant from the Menuhin Foundation, David won more than 25 prizes in International Cello Competitions. Amongst his prizes and awards are the Gold Medal of the GSMD in London, (like Jaqueline Dupre), The Geneva International Cello Competition, the Audi International Competition, International Cello Competition in Douai, ’Tenuto’international Competition”, The Guilherminia Suggia Gift, The Ian Flaming Trust, SPES, KPMG Martin Scholarship, Hattory Foundation, Berllotti-Buitonie Fellowship award, Fondation SUISA, J.S.Bach International Competition.
Furthermore, David was Nominated ECHO “Rising Star” for the season 2002-2003 by the “Royal Philharmonic Society of Belgium” and the “Concertgebouw”.

Davids’ passion for chamber music has led him to regularly enjoy collaborating with fine musicians in major International cello- and chamber music festivals such as Kronberg (Germany), Manchester ( U.K), Cambridge (U.K.), Beauvais (France), Orpheus Baccheus in Bordeaux ( France), the Gstaad Festival (Suisse), West Cork (Ireland) Kuhmo (Finland) Elverum (Norway) Oxford (u.k), Sonoro (Bucharest).

David is the Artistic Director of the Melchior Ensemble, which brings together the finest musicians from Europe such as a.o. Sasha Sitkovetsky, Priya Mitchel, Corine Chapelle, Silver Ainomae, Razvan Popovici and is the ensemble in  Residence in Peter House Cambridge.

David was appointed Principal Cello of the Philharmonia Orchestra in March 2001 (making him the youngest principal cellist in the history.). He has be appointed Principal cello of the London Symphony Orchestra in 2022.

Internationally award winning discography by David is to be found with Forlane, Classic FM, Cypres-Records and the LPO Label.  It includes recordings of the Lutoslawsky cello concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the S.Gubbaidulina cello concerto with the BBC Symphony.

David plays on a magnificient Dominicus Montagnana cello circa 1735 granted with kindness and generosity by Mrs. Pat Morton and with the support of the Razumovsky trust.

David is the creator and artistic director of «  Les Sons Intensifs » , a vibrant chamber music festival in the home town of the famous artist Renee Magritte (Lessines, Belgium).