06/03/2025
We are profoundly saddened to share the loss of cellist Joel Cohen, who performed with the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra for many years. Our orchestra musicians who shared the stage with Joel, and our Board, are shaken by the sudden passing of our colleague. Our hearts and prayers go out to Joel's loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.
Joel was a Grammy nominated cellist with a passion for unique, genre-bending music. After his early musical training in the San Francisco Bay area, his studies took him to the University of Western Ontario, and then to Holland. Returning to the Bay area, he served as co-principal cellist with the Oakland Symphony.
Joel lived in Vienna where he was a principal cellist of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, also performing with the Vienna Radio Symphony, the Wiener Kammeroper, the Wiener Akademie (on period instruments), and others. He toured extensively throughout Europe and Asia with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Johann Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna.
After his move to Mendocino County in 2007, Joel began playing with the Ukiah Symphony, adding much beauty to our cello section, and was also a soloist with our orchestra. He also performed with the Santa Rosa Symphony, among other orchestras in Northern California, and was an avid chamber musician in Mendocino County and beyond. Joel was a dedicated cello teacher and a wonderful musician. He will be deeply missed by all who performed alongside him.
