Cooper Olsen, age 16, resides in Bloomington, Indiana, where he is enrolled in the 10th grade at Bloomington North High School. Cooper studies violin with Professor Mimi Zweig at Jacobs School of Music String Academy.

Cooper was awarded first prize in the Senior Division of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra’s 2021 Young Artist Competition, having also won first prize in the Junior Division in the 2020 Young Artist Competition. During the 2020-2021 school year, Cooper also received first prize for the Senior Division of the State of Indiana Music Teachers National Association competition, first prize in the Tri-State Rising Artist Competition (Northern Kentucky University), and third prize in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Mauer Young Musicians Contest.

 Cooper’s appearance with the Muncie Symphony is his third solo performance with Indiana-based orchestras. In November 2020, Cooper performed in the Carmel Symphony Orchestra Masterworks Series. In August, 2021, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra presented Cooper as featured soloist in the BSO’s inaugural concert of their 52nd season.

 During August, Cooper also performed in Colorado as part of the inaugural Telluride Classical Young Artists Festival. Last month, “From the Top” radio show offered Cooper an appearance slot as a “From the Top” Fellow.

In addition to his studies with Professor Zweig, Cooper has performed in masterclasses taught by Atar Arad, Pamela Frank, Mauricio Fuchs, Vadim Gluzman and Paul Kantor.

When not practicing violin, Cooper enjoys designing and building websites, repairing old computers, collecting miniature die-cast cars, model trains and stuffed animals, and training his dogs (with mixed results).

Photo credit: inBloom photography