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The American-born soprano and horn player, Erin Cooper-Gay (=ECG), obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Horn from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
a singer “with a seductively warm, lyric quality” Erin Cooper-Gay is a remarkably versatile and spirited musician. A real affinity for collaboration compels her to seek out other artists from different genres who want to break ground and create new sound worlds. A professional French horn player from the age of 19, having made her solo debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, she draws upon her eclectic background to inform her singing style. Working as a session movie and gaming soundtrack player, as principal horn for the latest Toronto production of Les Misérables, and appearing with the orchestras of Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival and for the last ten years (since 2004), the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, has paved the way for Erin to hone her skills as a kind of musical craftsman.
Along came the discovery of her desire to sing providing a new pathway for expression… While still performing as Acting Utility Horn with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, she completed an Artist’s Diploma in Voice at the University of Toronto focusing on Early Music (2011-2012). What followed was a busy time of engagements owed, kicking off with her vocal debut as Kate Middleton in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's Last Night of the Proms in 2011, her American recital debut with the Madison Bach Players, multiple recitals in Toronto, and a solo feature with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, where she was previously principal horn. A”double threat”, she toured Europe with Bernard Labadie's Les Violons du Roy on horn and then sang in his Chapelle de Québec at Carnegie Hall. An avid chamber musician, she has been soprano in residence at the Scotiabank Northern Lights Festival in Ajijic, Mexico for the past 3 years, exploring new genres with the Attacca Quartet, pianist Jamie Parker, flautist Susan Hoeppner, pianist Angela Park, Richard Underhill Jazz Quartet, and with the festival orchestra.
Erin Cooper-Gay's debut album, "Black Market", is a fusion of renaissance/baroque and current indie music. Produced by jazz violinist and arranger Drew Jurecka, she has brought together a roster of brilliant musicians to explore an exciting new sound. Since October 2013,. she also works as Ballet Barre Instructor at Union Studio. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
