Nelson Cooke

Cooke was born in Bellbird, New South Wales, Australia.[2] He began playing the cello aged 8, having previously been a piano player.[2][1] During the Second World War, Cooke served in the Australian Defence Force, during which time he visited Papua New Guinea and the Soloman Islands.[2] In 1949, Cooke travelled to the UK to be taught by Pau Casals. Cooke was a principal cellist in the London Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s, making him the first Australian cellist at the orchestra. In the 1960s, he became principal cellist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[2][1] In 1968, Cooke began teaching at the University of South Florida.[3] In 1970, he became principle cellist for the Florida Orchestra.[4] He later became Head of Strings at the Canberra School of Music,[1][3] and in the 1990s, he worked as a music teacher at the University of Melbourne.[5]

In 1988, Cooke founded the Riverina Summer School for Strings.[3] Cooke retired from playing the cello at the age of 90.[1] In 2011, Cooke was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the New Years Honours List.[2][1][3]