About Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan studied Music at Oxford University and the clarinet and piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he won the Lutine Prize. He has since established an international reputation as a composer for theatre, television and the concert hall.

Jonathan is currently based in Norfolk.

Albums
Labels.  With Kevin Walton, vocals. 2024.
Misfit. With Natalie Gamsu. 2010.
The Madness of Kisses. Editor’s Pick in Musician magazine, 2008.
A Cabinet of Curiosities. First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 March 2007.
Music for the David Glass Ensemble.
anon settings of anonymous lyrics with vocals by Kevin Walton. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3, December 2002 and February 2003.
The Moon Behind the Clouds a song cycle with vocals by Barb Jungr & lyrics by Tania Unsworth. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3, September 2002.
Sleep based on lullabies with vocals by Kevin Walton. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3 September 2001. Choreographed by Tom Sapsford for The Royal Ballet, 2002.

Concert works
Mabel Stark: Tiger Tamer. A life in song for mezzo-soprano, four male voices, flute, clarinet, string quintet and piano. Libretto by Barb Jungr. 2024.
Preludes & Consolations solo piano pieces, 2007 – 2024.
Isolation Duet for clarinets. 2021.
Elegy for cello and piano. 2020.
Solitude for solo piano. 2017. Commissioned by Ken Unsworth. The score for a dance film by Sue Healey premiered at the Lincoln Centre in New York, 2018.
Never Ever for mezzo-soprano, bass, string quartet and harp. Commissioned by Ken Unsworth and premiered in Sydney 2015.
Departures for string quartet, harp and piano. Commissioned by Ken Unsworth and premiered in Sydney 2015.
The Arrangement cantata for six voices, flute, clarinet, cello and piano. 2013. Premiered at the Art Gallery of New South Wales by The Song Company.
Mack The Knife Variations for wind quintet. 2012.
As I crossed the bridge of dreams, for soprano, cello and piano. 2011. Premiered at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, 2011.
Labels for voice and piano. 2008 – 2013. Premiered at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 2008.
Hullabaloo for oboe and piano. 2010.
Galliumaufry, six pieces for clarinet & piano. Published by Emerson Edition, June 2010.
Serenade, for oboe, clarinet and bassoon. 2009.
The Funambulist’s Daring Feats for oboe, two clarinets, and bassoon. Published by Emerson Edition. 2009.
Pauper’s Chamber for two clarinets and cello. 2009.
Half A Life In A Day for solo cello. 2008.
As Easy As Lying, for oboe, viola and piano. 2001.

Theatre, Dance & Performance
The Garden Between Heaven and Hell/As I crossed the bridge of dreams. Ken Unsworth. Cockatoo Island, Sydney. August 2011.
The House Of Blue Leaves. Ken Unsworth. Art Gallery of NSW. 2010.
Misfit. Cabaret with Natalie Gamsu. Sydney 2009, Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2010.
Learning to Kiss. Performed at TED X (Amsterdam). November 2009.
A Ringing Glass (Rilke). Installation by Ken Unsworth, Cockatoo Island, Sydney. Music orchestrated and conducted by Jonathan Cooper. May 2009.
Jonathan Cooper’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, August 2008.
Endangered. Music theatre piece commissioned by Youth Music Theatre UK, Barbican Theatre, Plymouth Summer 08.
Getting to Know You. Joshua Sofaer. On tour in 08.
Real Man. Blind Summit Theatre. Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House. November 07.
The Frozen Sea. Thomas/Carter Projects. Fierce Festival, May 07.
Revelations. Stan Won’t Dance. Autumn tour 06. Including QEH and Laban.
Exiles. National Theatre. Directed by James Macdonald. Summer 06.
The Pandora Effect. Chelsea Theatre. Directed by Gary Carter. Summer 06.
Namesake. A collaboration with performance artist Joshua Sofaer. Tate Britain. February 06.
The Thought That Counts. theatre-rites in collaboration with the Barbican and the Young Vic. Directed by Sue Buckmaster. Autumn 05. Tour 07.
Beauty and the Beast. Belgrade Theatre, directed by John Wright. Summer 05.
The Masque of Water. Thomas/Carter Projects. Commissioned by Queer Up North and Fierce Festival. With singer Natalie Gamsu. Directed by Gary Carter. Summer 05.
Disembodied. The David Glass Ensemble. Directed by Tom Morris. Autumn 04 – Spring 05.
The Moon Behind the Clouds. Commissioned by BAC Opera Festival 2004.
His Girl Friday, Royal National Theatre. Directed by Jack O’Brien. Spring – winter 2003.
The Chimp That Spoke, The David Glass Ensemble. Spring – Summer tour 2003.
The Wizard of Oz. Arranged for The West Yorkshire Playhouse. Directed by Jude Kelly. March 2002.
tic(k), choreographed by Tom Sapsford for The Royal Ballet. Clore Studio, Royal Opera House. 2002.
Medea, commissioned by Fljugandi Fiskar, Iceland. Performed in Iceland, Finland and London 2001/2.
The Red Thread, a Requiem commissioned by The David Glass Ensemble with funds from The Arts Council of England, performed in the Philippines, Vietnam, London (The Young Vic) and on tour in England.
Off the Wall, a children’s show commissioned by Polka Theatre based on works in Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Toured 2000-2002.
The Lost Child and The Hansel Gretel Machine. Theatre scores performed in China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Philipinnes, Indonesia, Columbia, Italy, Bosnia, Cambodia and Britain, commissioned by The David Glass Ensemble. 1998 – 2000.
Cut With A Kitchen Knife. Music theatre. Excerpts presented by Opera Circus at Battersea Arts Centre.

Television and Film
LISTEN TO COMPILATION TRACK OF FILM MUSIC
Service. A short film directed by Lindy Heymann for Channel 4.
Together Higher. A documentary by DGE Productions.
Melusine. A short film directed by Florian Viale.
The Cost of Living. DV8. Channel 4.
Pyramid. BBC1/Discovery Channel.
Behind Bars. BBC2.
Fisheries. Articfilm Productions. SC1 Iceland.
Commercials for Nissan, British Gas, HSBC.

Music Director
Gormenghast (MD/keyboards) David Glass Ensemble. UK tour 2006/7.
Love Me Tender Five tracks arranged for Barb Jungr’s ‘Elvis’ album. 2005.
Hamlet (MD/keyboards/recorder) Royal National Theatre. Director: John Caird. 2000.
The Red Thread/The Lost Child/Hansel Gretel Machine (MD/EWI/keyboards) David Glass Ensemble. 1998 – 2000.
Amy’s View (MD/keyboards) Royal National Theatre. Director: Richard Eyre. 1997
Cat Man’s Tale (MD/clarinet/bass clarinet) Opera Circus. Opera by Alisdair Nicholson. Director: Peta Lily. 1997.
La Dolce Vita: A Musical (orchestrator/MD/clarinet/keyboards) David Glass Ensemble. 1996.
King Stag (arranger/MD/clarinet/keyboards) Opera Circus. Director: David Glass. 1996.
Gormenghast (MD/keyboards). David Glass Ensemble. World tour 1995.