Richard Scott Cohen, DM

Richard Scott Cohen, DM

Chair, Department of Humanities
Professor of Music & Director of Instrumental Concert Ensembles
Humanities
Phone: (231) 591-3675
Email: [email protected]

Education

• DM, Doctor of Music, Northwestern University, Conducting, Band Concentration / Music Education Emphasis
• MM, Master of Music, Northwestern University, Conducting, Band Concentration / Music Education Emphasis
• BA, University of Illinois, Spanish, Spanish Concentration
• BS, University of Illinois, Music Education, Comprehensive Concentration

Graduate/Post-Graduate Training

• Internship, Fulbright Commission, Madrid, Spain

Biography

Dr. Cohen is currently serving as Chair of the Department of Humanities. In addition, he is also Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Concert Ensembles. He directs the Ferris State West Central Concert Band, the Ferris State Symphony Band, the Ferris State Community Summer Band and the Ferris State West Central Chamber Orchestra, and he also teaches courses in music appreciation. Dr. Cohen is a Board Member in the Rotary Club of Big Rapids, and he has partnered concerts with community organizations such as Mecosta County Medical Center Auxiliary, Festival of the Arts, Mecosta-Osceola Area Resource Center, Tuba Bach Chamber Music Series, Canadian Lakes Association, Big Rapids Old Jail and various veterans organizations.

He has also partnered holiday programs with local charities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Project Starburst Food Pantry, Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army. Dr. Cohen was the 2012 recipient of the MCMC Foundation’s Northern Lights Award for the Arts, having served on the boards of directors of Art Works, the Festival of the Arts, the Tuba Bach Chamber Music Series, the City of Big Rapids Parks and Recreation Board, the Big Rapids Band Shell Development Committee and the Big Rapids Band Shell Programming Committee. A native of Chicago, he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Illinois, a doctoral conducting graduate from Northwestern University and a Fulbright Scholar to Spain. Dr. Cohen also remains active as a conductor, trombonist, composer, music adjudicator, researcher, author and lecturer throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Publications and Intellectual Contributions

• Journal Article
  Cohen, R. S., Zimmer, M. E. (2019). "The New Chair’s Role: Faculty, Mentor, Colleague, Supervisor?"
• Newspaper Article
  Cohen, R. S. (2007). "Going Nuts with Tchaikovsky," The Pioneer newspaper.
• Poem
  Cohen, R. S. (1998). "Azcárraga, Pasodoble fallero," Fundació Paulí Bellet (D.C)
• Poem
  Cohen, R. S. (1994). "Azcárraga, Pasodoble fallero," Piles Editorial, S.A.

Presentations

• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), Conference, "The Community Band Movement in Valencia Spain: A 25-Year Update on Its Musical Evolution and Impact on Society," North American Catalan Society (NACS), Chicago, IL, (2019).
• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), National Conference, "The Community Band Movement in Valencia Spain: A 25-Year Update on Its Musical Evolution and Impact on Society," College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Tempe, AZ, (2019).
• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), Zimmer, M. E. (Presenter), Academic Chairpersons Conference, “The Chair’s Role: Faculty, Mentor, Colleague, Supervisor?” Houston, TX, (2019).
• Keynote/Plenary Address
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), “Música a la Llum” Musicology Conference, "La Integració Internacional del Món Bandístic Valencià (The International Integration of the Valencia Band World)," Valencia, Spain, (2018).
• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Conference, "Conductor for the Saxophone Choir Reading Session," NASA, West Lafayette, IN, (2017).
• The Community Band Movement in Valencia Spain: A 20-Year Update on its Evolution and Impact on Society
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), Festival of the Arts Brown Bag Lunch Lecture, Big Rapids, MI, (2017).
• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), Secrist, C. (Presenter), Frye, D. (Presenter), National Conference, "Small Program Perspectives: 3 Different Institutions, 3 Different Approaches," College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Kansas City, MO, (2017).
• Demonstration
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), Ronda-Sampayo, A. (Presenter), Session, “Old Meets New: Spain’s Symphonic Tradition Embraces a New World of Video Game Music.” Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI, (2017).
• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S., "The Community Band Movement in Valencia Spain: A 20-Year Update on It's Evolution and Impact on Society," IGEB International Society for the Research and Promotion of Band Music, Oberschützen, Austria, (2016).
• Oral Presentation
  Cohen, R. S. (Presenter), Conference, "Chair & Presenter of Fritz Thelen Prize for Outstanding Band Research," IGEB International Society for the Research and Promotion of Band Music, Oberschützen, Austria, (2016).