
Biography
Ashley Cooper enjoys a multifaceted career that allows her to share her passion for music with children and adults alike. She is currently an Artist-In-Residence and Adjunct Instructor of Violin in the Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University. Prior to OSU, she taught on the violin faculty at Concordia University (TX), Texas Lutheran University, Austin Chamber Music Center, Regents School of Austin, and the International Music Academy in Houston. Mrs. Cooper is an experienced, passionate educator, investing her time in outreach concerts, leading high school sectionals, teaching music fundamentals classes for young children, and maintains a selective private violin studio in Stillwater, OK.
Mrs. Cooper is an avid orchestral musician. Before relocating to Stillwater, she was a tenured member of the First Violin section of the Austin Symphony and Austin Opera from 2012-2019. She now performs frequently with the OKC Philharmonic and has performed with the Tulsa Symphony and Tulsa Opera.
Ashley has taught and performed at music festivals nationally including SXSW, Victoria Bach Festival (TX), Mozart Festival (TX), Grand Teton Music Festival (WY), Garth Newel Chamber Music Festival (VA), Belvoir Terrace Performing Arts Camp (MA), and PhoenixPhest Chamber Music Festival (MI). An active chamber musician, she has also collaborated with the Texas Bach Festival, Austin Eurythmy Ensemble, Austin Chamber Ensemble, Artisan String Quartet, Classical Music for the World, Round Rock Symphony Chamber Music, and Da Camera of Houston.
Mrs. Cooper received a Master of Music degree from Rice University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan.
Ashley enjoys playing games and taking long walks with her daughter Abby, a budding musician, and her husband Dr. Joseph Cooper, a professional musician and faculty member at Oklahoma State University.