Jane Coop never imagined she would become a pianist. She says she simply wanted to emulate her sister Elsbeth, who played the piano well enough to win the 1967 CBC National Radio Competition for Young Performers. In 1970, Jane followed her sister's lead. She too won the CBC competition, and that's where the similarity ends because Coop opted for a life in music.
Coop was born in St. John and raised in Calgary. She went to Toronto to study with Anton Kuerti, and continued studies with Leon Fleisher in the U.S. In Toronto, Coop met Greta Kraus, a harpsichordist and pianist who passed on her love of chamber music to Coop. Coop remains passionate about coaching chamber music at home in Vancouver and at many music festivals including North America's oldest - the Kneisel Chamber Music Festival in Maine.
Coop's career as a pianist has led her across Canada and around the world, from Bolshoi Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia, to Beijing Concert Hall in China. Coop also travels to adjudicate competitions and teach; one of her mementos is a photograph of the then 11-year-old Lang Lang who attended one of her master classes.
Jane Coop has recorded Beethoven sonatas with violinist Andrew Dawes and cellist Antonio Lysy. Her 16 CDs have garnered three Juno nominations. In December 2012, she was appointed to the Order of Canada.
Jane Coop hosts This Is My Music on Saturday, March 16, on CBC Radio 2 from 10:05 a.m. to noon in most of the country, 11:05 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Atlantic Canada.
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