BIO
Western Illinois University Music Professor Emeritus John Cooper is an extremely talented jazz artist and composer who served as the Director of Jazz Studies until his recent retirement (Aug 2022). Cooper is visible in the Tri-States community as an adjudicator, clinician, and performer at numerous events throughout the year and is Conductor/Founding member Post 6 Big Band, and Lamoine River Ramblers. John has dedicated an enormous amount of his time and talents to the WIU Performing Arts Society by writing and composing shows for the Youth Performing Arts Series- even during COVID. Dr. Cooper reimagined and implemented technology to safely provide online performances, including 2021 WIU Jazz Festival with remote guest artist, Bobby Shew. Thousands of school aged children have now been introduced to WIU Jazz because of his talent and dedication.
Dr. Cooper is visible in the Macomb community as a performer at veteran events and funeral services as a dedicated member (TAPS Bugler) of Macomb VFW Post 1921 & American Legion Post #6 Honor Guard or at the Western Illinois University Fallen Soldiers 5K to raise money for the WIU Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund, which supports veterans and service members currently enrolled at Western. His frequent appearances and collaborative spirit are treasured by community members and provide an important link to WIU. Dr. Cooper has demonstrated extraordinary service to the School of Music, the University, and the Macomb community.
While some of his service activities are quite visible, including his appearances as a performer and participation in committees in the School of Music, he also contributed in valuable ways largely unknown to the community and did so without fanfare. His work behind the scenes on innovative technological projects has opened doors for WIU students and connected them to the community in ways which would not have otherwise been possible. On the University level, he was a member of the University Technology Advisory Group and maintained open lines of communication with music colleagues regarding advancements in technology. John’s greater knowledge of technology would serve the University, his students, and his community groups as the COVID Pandemic progressed much longer than first anticipated. Dr. Cooper has shown progressive integration of technology into his teaching through innovation in the development of technology enhanced teaching spaces, digital applications for developing music knowledge and skills, and use of the Internet to enable anytime/anyplace opportunities for his students to learn and practice. The integration of technology into his teaching practice includes the delivery of instruction in rich media formats through online technologies including websites, content management systems and mobile devices. His work provides students with hands-on experience in the use of technology to develop music notation and audio content through the use of innovations, such as music engraving, recording and distribution applications.
Dr. Cooper began his musical career in 1983 in Detroit, Michigan where he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Wayne State University in Jazz Studies. At WSU Cooper studied with John Trudell and Gordon Stump and Matt Michaels, as well as other prominent Detroit area musicians. While in Detroit, he performed with the Johnny Trudell Orchestra as well as jazz artists Jon Faddis and Carl Fontana and other national touring acts including The Temptations, Rich Little, Joan Rivers, The Four Tops, and Lou Rawls. Cooper continued his education, obtaining a Master's degree in Music Composition from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he worked as a teaching assistant in Jazz Studies under the supervision of Jazz Studies Director, Jeff Halsey. From Ohio, Cooper moved to New York City to continue studies with jazz artist and composer Jim McNeely at New York University, where he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Composition in 1996. While in New York, Cooper was a member of the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop and graduated to the Master Composer's group.
Awards/Recognition:
2022 William E. Brattain Distinguished Service Award, named for the former WIU Associate Vice President for Student Services and director of the University Union for over 24 years, recognizes special service and a lifetime of dedication to the arts in general.
2020 "The Governor of Forgottonia" composition is a tribute to Neal Gamm and his peaceful protests about the lack of funding western Illinois has received for road construction projects. The documentary, "People, Places, and Power: Fulton County Edition," was produced by Matt Meachum, of the Illinois Humanities Council. The recording was done in isolation during COVID with Dr. Cooper's guidance in technology and audio and video editing.
2020 COFAC's Award for Excellence in University/Community Service School of Music Professor John Cooper
2018 Community Quality of Life Award: Presented by Rep. Norine Hammond, this Award is present to individuals who enrich the quality of life in Macomb and McDonough County by volunteering and sharing their musical talents.
2010 Provost's Award of Excellence in Teaching with Technology - John Cooper, professor of music
2005, 2006, 2007: Recipient of 3 National Endowment of the Arts Grants
- Watching for Watchung Plaza and "This Little Light of Mine" The Baecker Jazz Worship Service [WIU Press Release]
Wayne State University, Bachelor's degree Bowling Green State University, Master's degree New York University, Doctorate degree