"In our first conversation, I saw instantly that she was polite, personable, and intelligent. I discovered later that she possesses the talent, musicianship, and work ethic to match her professional and pleasant persona."
~Dr. Patrick Walders, JMU School of Music
MS. Anna Cooper
Anna Cooper came to Edison in the fall of 2015. As a music educator, Ms. Cooper has an easy and positive rapport with her students, and a talent for motivating them to pursue and achieve musical excellence. Throughout her career, her choirs have consistently received Superior (I) and Excellent ratings (II) at Region and State festivals. Her choirs also regularly take home 1st Place and Gold awards from WorldStrides Heritage Performance choral competitions. While she loves a first place finish, what she values most is student growth. She hopes that every singer she directs becomes a more sensitive, goal-oriented, and confident person through participating in choir.
As a conductor, Ms. Cooper garners praise from adjudicators and clinicians for her clear conducting and musical sensitivity. Her concert repertoire selection shows her versatility as a conductor, ranging from the masterworks of Mozart, Purcell, and Mendelssohn to the contemporary works of Gjeilo, Lauridsen, and Whitacre. Ms. Cooper is especially drawn to music from around the world, and frequently programs pieces from countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Haiti.
Ms. Cooper is a member of Voce, hailed by The Washington Post as “Northern Virginia’s premier choral ensemble". The Voce Chamber Singers are known throughout the DC metropolitan area for dynamic programming and high standards of musical excellence. The ensemble is comprised of music professionals and experienced singers from the surrounding communities, and our performances seek to share the transformative power of great choral music with audiences throughout our region. Voce has gained national recognition for its commitment to commissioning new works by leading American composers. www.voce.org Ms. Cooper is a member of NAfME, VMEA, ACDA, VA ACDA, and FCCDA.
She holds a degree in Music Education (Vocal Concentration) and Theatre minor from James Madison University, where she studied under Dr. Patrick Walders. She was a soprano section leader of the Madison Singers, President of the American Choral Directors Association, Music Intern at Asbury United Methodist Church, and a member of JMU Acapella group- Into Hymn.
Ms. Cooper lives in Burke, VA with her husband, Michael.
As a conductor, Ms. Cooper garners praise from adjudicators and clinicians for her clear conducting and musical sensitivity. Her concert repertoire selection shows her versatility as a conductor, ranging from the masterworks of Mozart, Purcell, and Mendelssohn to the contemporary works of Gjeilo, Lauridsen, and Whitacre. Ms. Cooper is especially drawn to music from around the world, and frequently programs pieces from countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Haiti.
Ms. Cooper is a member of Voce, hailed by The Washington Post as “Northern Virginia’s premier choral ensemble". The Voce Chamber Singers are known throughout the DC metropolitan area for dynamic programming and high standards of musical excellence. The ensemble is comprised of music professionals and experienced singers from the surrounding communities, and our performances seek to share the transformative power of great choral music with audiences throughout our region. Voce has gained national recognition for its commitment to commissioning new works by leading American composers. www.voce.org Ms. Cooper is a member of NAfME, VMEA, ACDA, VA ACDA, and FCCDA.
She holds a degree in Music Education (Vocal Concentration) and Theatre minor from James Madison University, where she studied under Dr. Patrick Walders. She was a soprano section leader of the Madison Singers, President of the American Choral Directors Association, Music Intern at Asbury United Methodist Church, and a member of JMU Acapella group- Into Hymn.
Ms. Cooper lives in Burke, VA with her husband, Michael.