Cohen’s individualistic and intriguing take on [Prokofiev’s] Visions Fugitives as a whole is one of the finest I have heard… If you have ever wondered how Wilhelm Kempff might have sounded playing Prokofiev, here is your chance to find out.
– Fanfare Magazine
Judith Cohen began piano studies at the age of five with Ruth Schein, and continued at the Chicago Musical College with Saul Dorfman until the age of eighteen. She completed graduate studies with Randolph Hokanson at the University of Washington, and has performed in the public masterclasses of Aldo Ciccolini, Alexis Weissenberg, Daniel Pollack and Murray Perahia.
Ms Cohen made her European recital debut in 2002, performing two solo recitals in Budapest, Hungary, and since then has returned three times for concert tours of Hungary. She has performed solo recitals in Mexico, under the sponsorship of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. Critic Robert Somerlott of the Mexico City News hailed her as “an artist of unusual talent who captivated the audience with both her musicianship and stage presence.” She has performed solo and chamber music recitals throughout the Pacific Northwest, in Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Kentucky and Texas. She has also been presented in solo recitals by the Dame Myra Hess Recital Series in both Chicago and Los Angeles, and by the Florence Conservatory of Music in Italy.
Ms Cohen is the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Governor’s Chamber Music Series in Olympia, Washington, and the pianist in the acclaimed TangleTown Trio. She has performed and toured with Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater as piano soloist between 2009-2016, with music of Erwin Schulhoff, Robert Schumann and Andy Tierstein. Her discography includes recordings on the Pear Records , Capstone and Byzantium labels. In a 2012 review of two of these recordings, Radu Lelatiu of Fanfare Magazine reported, “She is without doubt a first-rate artist…if you have ever wondered how Wilhelm Kempff might have sounded playing Prokofiev, here is your chance to find out.”
In 2005 Ms Cohen received the honor of becoming a Steinway Artist. She enjoys the distinction of being part of this elite society of pianists. Read more about this honor in this Seattle PI article.
