David Cohen was born in 1980 in Tournai, Belgium, into a family of musicians and started to play the cello when he was seven. In 1991 he won First Prize in the Young Soloist Competition and First Prize with Distinction in the Senior and the Junior International Competition in Wathrelos, France. He then went to the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles. In 1994 David joined the Yehudi Menuhin School for four years, thanks to a grant from the Menuhin Foundation, before going on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Oleg Kogan. On graduation, David was awarded the GSMD's most prestigious award, the Gold Medal, joining the list of previous winners including Jacqueline du Pré, Bryn Terfel and Tasmin Little.

David began an international career as a soloist aged just 11, performing with the Flemish Orchestra of Brussels, the Orchestra from Grenoble and the Polish Philharmonic Orchestra under Lord Menuhin's direction, and in 1996 he toured England and Scotland with the Symphonia of Warsaw. In 1997 he had a masterclass with Mstislav Rostropovich and after listening to David, Rostropovich asked him to play in his cello sextet. The same year he was also offered a tour in Germany with the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. David has also appeared at several international cello festivals including Kronberg (Germany), Manchester, Cambridge (UK), Beauvais (France) and the Gstaad Festival (Switzerland). In 2005, he became Artist in Residence at Peter House, Cambridge.

David was appointed Principal Cello of the Philharmonia Orchestra in March 2002 (the youngest cello principal ever) and currently teaches at the Royal Conservatoire de Musique de Mons in Belgium. He plays on a magnificent cello by Dominico Montagnana circa 1735, thanks to Mrs Pat Morton and the Razumovsky Trust.

David's solo recordings are available on the Forlane, Classic FM, Cypres-Records and LPO labels.

“…David Cohen, one of the most talented young cellists I know. He was a student at my School for some years, and is altogether a remarkable young man, a remarkable performer and already an outstanding cellist.”
Lord Yehudi Menuhin, 1998

Visit David's website

Awards & Prizes

• At 11, he received in the same year the 1st prize at the "Jeunes Solistes" and "Crédit Communal" National Competitions (B).
• 1st prize with "grande distinction" for the International Competition of Music in Wathrelos Junior category in 1993 and Senior in 1995 (F).
• 1st prize of the "Royale Conservatoire de Bruxelles" in Edmond Baert's class at 12
• 1st Grand Finalist at the Audi International Competition in 1995 (GB)
• 1st Grand Finalist at the International Cello Competition in Douai (F), Manuel Rosenthal president in 1995
• 1st Grand Prix - "Tenuto" National Competition" (B)
• Award "Guilherminia Suggia Gift for Cello" Donation in 1996 & 1999 (GB)
• Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Award for "extremely talented musicians" 1999 (GB)
• Award "Fondation pour la Vocation" 1999 (B). * Award from the "Hattori Foundation for Young Musicians" Donation 1999 (GB)
• Award from the City of Tournai in 1999 (B)
• Award from the "Fondation SPES" in 1999 (B)
• Award winner of the KPMG/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund in 2000 and 2001 (GB)
• Geneva International Cello Competition Special Prize "Patrick F.Liechti" from the Fondation SUISA pour la musique 2000 (CH)
• Nominated "Rising Star" for the season 2002-2003 by the "Royal Philharmonic Society of Belgium" and the "Concertgebouw".
• Awarded the CRPLF "Young Soloist of the Year" by the Community of French speaking Radios of the World (RTBF, Radio Canada, Radio France, Radio Suisse Romande)
• Gold Medal Winner at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 2002 (GB)
• Hattori Foundation, Senior Award Winner in 2003
• Award from the Solti Foundation in 2003
• Award from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust in 2004
• Octave de Musique for Best Classical Music Album, 2004