Carl R. Cook

Violin, Viola Teacher

Carl Cook

Contact

Liberty, MO

Carl Cook—Liberty, MO. Beginning violin at age three, Carl was the child of two musicians. His father, a Texas born jazz trumpeter and composer, studied composition with musical luminary Samuel Adler and his mother, a New York born soprano, attended the Eastman school under the administration of Howard Hanson. They decided to fund violin lessons for their precocious son rather than sending him to preschool. Growing up in the cultural college town of Pittsburg, Kansas Carl was actively involved in the collegiate symphonic and theatrical productions from his early teens, both in the orchestra and on stage. Some of Mr. Cook’s stage roles included Winthrop in the Music Man, Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Chino in West Side Story, and most surprisingly Judge Turpin in Pittsburg State University’s 1986 production of Sweeney Todd. (because he could sing the part)

After graduation Carl attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he acquired a Bachelor of Music Degree in viola performance and met the Nebraskan cellist he was to later marry, Kayl Soukup. He then earned a Master of Music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music studying primarily with Patrick Connolly and participating in masterclasses for Robert Vernon and Heidi Castleman.

After returning to Kansas City from Cleveland, Carl and Kayl were married and he began teaching through the Music/ Arts Institute Suzuki Program, UMKC Department of Continuing Education and Northland Cathedral. A few years later he accepted an administrative internship with a director and founder Music/ Arts Institute developing a better understanding of the “business end” of music business. It was during this time that Mr. Cook founded and served as director of the Three Trails Fiddle Camp which had a successful seven-year run. In addition he served as the director of the Heart Of America Suzuki Association Winter Workshop, coordinating the yearly event which served a community of teachers and hundreds of students playing various instruments each year.

Currently, Mr. Cook performs as a freelance violist and violinist performing in classical and traditional music ensembles while maintaining a full studio of private students in Liberty, Missouri. He regularly performs with the Kansas City Baroque Consortium, as he has nearly since its inception. A lover of all things Baroque, through KCBC, Carl has realized his dream to play Baroque music as is was meant to be played with experienced, knowledgeable and avid practitioners of the craft.

Some of Carl’s other musical performing credits include live performances with The Moody Blues; Harry Connick Jr. ; Michael Bolton; Peter Gabriel and Mannheim Steamroller, as well as an appearance in the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin.

Carl and Kayl have two children. Their daughter, Cecelia, studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Their son, Scott, is an active vocalist, drummer and artist currently in high school.