Biography

Pianist Kevin Cole is an award-winning concert performer, musical director, arranger, composer, vocalist and archivist whose repertoire includes the best of American Music with a particular affinity for the music of George Gershwin.

Current and Recent Activities

Orchestre National Radio France
Detroit Symphony
Utah Symphony
Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (reengagement)
Boston Philharmonic (reengagement)
Colorado Symphony
Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl
BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall
National Symphony at Kennedy Center
San Francisco Symphony
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony
Minnesota Orchestra
Nashville Symphony
Dallas Symphony
Seattle Symphony
Albany Symphony at Carnegie Hall
Hong Kong Philharmonic
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony
Edmonton Symphony
Wolf Trap
Savannah Music Festival
Castleton Festival
Chautauqua Institute

Recent Collaborations

Sylvia McNair
Dawn Upshaw
Brian d’Arcy James
Karen Morrow
Melissa Manchester
John Lithgow
Donna McKechnie
Christine Andreas
Hollis Resnik
Klea Blackhurst
Kim Criswell
William Warfield

Endeavors

Gershwin at One Symphony Space: PBS television special – featured soloist with the Nashville Symphony
Play It Again, Marvin! - A Celebration of Marvin Hamlish: writer, co-producer and performer with Pittsburgh Symphony
Here To Stay - The Gershwin Experience: multimedia concert – writer, co-producer and performer with multiple orchestras

Noteworthy

Gramophone Musical Album of the Year, 1995 for Gershwin’s Oh, Kay! with soprano Dawn Upshaw (Elektra/Nonesuch)

Other Recordings

Cole Plays Gershwin – solo piano
In The Words of Ira – The Songs of Ira Gershwin – vocal/jazz trio

Recent Director and Teaching Positions

Pasadena Play House - Musical Director
Michigan Ensemble Theatre – Musical Director
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival – Musical Director
Royal George Theatre (Chicago) – Musical Director
Interlochen Center for the Arts – Master Classes in musical theatre vocal performance
North Carolina School of the Arts – Master Classes in musical theatre vocal performance