The New York Philharmonic

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Biography
Timothy Cobb

Bassist Timothy Cobb joined the New York Philharmonic as Principal Bass in May 2014, after serving as principal bass of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and principal bass of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra since 1989. He has appeared at numerous chamber music festivals worldwide, including the Marlboro Music festival, through which he has toured with the Musicians from Marlboro series. A faculty member of the Sarasota Music Festival, he is helping to launch a new bass program for the Killington Music Festival in Killington, Vermont. Cobb also serves as principal bass for Valery Gergiev’s World Orchestra for Peace, an invited group of musicians from around the world who donate their time biannually and perform to promote international harmony. Cobb has been designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace from his affiliation with the World Orchestra.

He has an ongoing collaboration with actor Stephen Lang, for whom he recorded a solo bass sound track for Lang’s animated short film The Wheatfield, which depicts a human drama from the Battle of Gettysburg. The two were invited to Gettysburg in July 2013 on the 150th anniversary of the battle to perform in the Salute to the States event held there, and they will continue to collaborate for future events.

Cobb serves as bass department chair for The Juilliard School as well as on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, Purchase College, and Rutgers University. He is also a distinguished visiting artist for Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

A native of Albany, New York, Timothy Cobb graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Roger Scott. While at Curtis, Cobb was a substitute with The Philadelphia Orchestra and in his senior year became a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Georg Solti. Cobb can be heard on all Metropolitan Opera recordings released after 1986, as well as on a recording of Giovanni Bottesini’s duo bass music with bassist Thomas Martin on the Naxos label.

“My father said I picked up a bass at six or seven and started playing all this hard stuff. I was around bass from day one, and I thought everyone played it!”

Q&A with Timothy Cobb

THE FACTS: Born in Albany, New York. Studied at The Curtis Institute of Music with Roger Scott. Prior to the Philharmonic: principal bass of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, principal bass of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also: principal bass of Valery Gergiev's World Orchestra for Peace. At the Philharmonic: Acting Principal Bass in the 2012–13 season; Principal since May 2014. Current teaching posts: bass department chair of The Juilliard School; faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, Purchase College, and Rutgers University; distinguished visiting artist at Lynn University. Most recent recording: The Bottesini Collection, Volume Five, with bassist Thomas Martin on Naxos.

EARLIEST MUSICAL MEMORY: My father was a bass teacher, and bass players were constantly coming and going from our house. At age five I wondered why they were making such a big fuss out of this peculiar melody by a man named Mahler. It turned out to be from the third movement of Mahler's First Symphony.

FIRST PIECE YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH: Mahler's Fifth Symphony when I was 10 and Beethoven's Violin Concerto when I was 12. Both recordings went to Curtis with me and I listened to them every day.

WHEN DID YOU START BASS? My father said I picked up a bass at six or seven and started playing all this hard stuff. I was around bass from day one, and I thought everyone played it! I started lessons at seven.

WERE YOU INVOLVED IN ANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOL? Rock 'n' roll drumming

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT: No, no, it's too embarrassing!

WHO WERE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT MUSICAL INFLUENCES? Pianist Rudolf Serkin — he was humble, kind, generous with his knowledge, and incredibly excited about music; and cellist David Soyer — for all those reasons, plus he was a tough New Yorker

MOST INSPIRING COMPOSERS: Mahler, J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Berg ... I can't stop!

HOW DOES YOUR OPERA BACKGROUND TRANSFER TO PLAYING IN A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA? The principal bass position in the opera orchestra requires a serious commitment to ensemble: the ability to connect an orchestra and soloist through the bass line. I love that and hope to make a strong contribution to the Philharmonic in that way.

TELL US ABOUT THE SOUND TRACK FOR STEPHEN LANG'S SHORT FILM THE WHEATFIELD: Stephen realized that a solo bass's soulful, earthy sound would be ideal for the true story of two Civil War soldiers — a northerner and a southerner — aiding each other at the Battle of Gettysburg. We performed it at the 150th anniversary of the Battle. This moving and meaningful project turned out to be one of the high points of my life.

As of December 2014

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Upcoming 2023-2024 Performances
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Location: (Directions)
Price Range:
Duration:

No upcoming solo or chamber events.

×

Purchase 3 or more eligible concerts & save.

About Create Your Own Series:

Pick three (or more) concerts and and enjoy exclusive Subscriber Benefits including unlimited free ticket exchange. Ideal for concertgoers who want the ultimate in flexibility and the benefits of being a subscriber.

Subscriber Benefits:

  • Free, easy ticket exchange (available online or by phone)
  • Save on subscription concerts all year long
  • Priority notice on special events

How it Works:

  1. Look for the Create Your Own Series icon CYO eligible icon next to a concert and add it to your cart.
  2. Simply follow the directions in the shopping cart and enter promo code CREATE3 at check out.