Jessica Cooper

Jessica Cooper is a Boston based freelance violist who has performed across North and South America in renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, and Teatro del Lago (Chile).  She is a founding member of the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra and the principal violist of the Lowell Chamber Orchestra. Jess recently made her Celebrity Series debut as guest principal violist with Unitas Ensemble; other recent performances have been with the New Bedford Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Plymouth Philharmonic, Opera Neo (San Diego), and Music Worcester among others. A passionate chamber musician and innovator, Jess is a co-founder of Spectacle Collective, a non-profit arts organization that brings classical music into conversation with other live performance styles, such as theater, puppetry, and circus arts, to create unique interdisciplinary experiences. 

We consider Jess an NEMRF Ambassador, who helps to raise awareness about the New England Musicians Resource Fund to supporters and musicians across New England.

Jess earned both an MM and PD in viola performance from Boston University under the tutelage of Daniel Doña and Michelle LaCourse. She also holds a BA in both viola performance and Spanish from Bates College, where she studied viola with Robert Dan. Her other principal teachers have been Jane Starkman, Penelope Knuth, and Carlos Boltes. Jess enjoys teaching viola and violin lessons to students of all ages, and currently teaches a studio of private students as well as being a faculty member at the Shrewsbury Public Schools. When Jess is not spending time with her viola, she enjoys testing out new recipes and open water swimming at Asnamcomet Pond.