Internationally known tubist Floyd O.
Cooley has been heard in recital throughout
the US, Europe and Japan, appearing as
soloist, clinician, giving master classes,
and as a member of the San Francisco
Symphony. When Floyd joined the San
Francisco Symphony in 1969, he was the
youngest tuba player in any major orchestra
in the United States. He soloed with that
orchestra on two occasions, under the baton
of Seiji Ozawa and Jahja Ling, and has given
recitals in a wide variety of places,
including Carnegie Hall. He played the
1992-1993 season with the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra.
Floyd commissioned,
performed and recorded works by Earl Zindars
and Richard Felciano. His solo albums
include “The Romantic Tuba” on Crystal
Records and “A Schumann Fantasy” on Summit
Records. Praised for his sensitive playing,
mellow tone and singing melodic line, the
San Francisco Chronicle added "the sheer
beauty of tone and technical accuracy were
amazing. The effect was operatically
vocal."
A major influence on
his development was his time with Arnold
Jacobs whom he studied with between 1973 and
1998, and with whom he collaborated in later
years on students they both taught. He
received a Performer’s Certificate in 1969
from Indiana University where he studied
with William Bell. Additional studies
ensued with Mstislav Rostropovich, Jacob
Krachmalnick, and Mark Lifschey.
Teaching has always
been important in Floyd’s career He taught
at the San Francisco Conservatory for 31
years and also at Stanford University. So
after 31 years playing with the San
Francisco Symphony it was natural to focus
fully on teaching. For the past 15 years he
has been on faculty at DePaul University’s
School of Music, most recently as brass
coordinator, in addition to teaching applied
tuba, brass concepts pedagogy, and studio
teaching as a career. Acceptance to his
studio is highly competitive, but once there
the small class has a very supportive
atmosphere.
Additionally, his
teaching takes him to three continents,
giving masters classes and teaching others
how to teach one-on-one. He regularly
teaches in Germany, Australia, New Zealand
and Japan. Participants at the masters
classes are typically experienced brass
players, although developing artists are
welcome.
A musician of extremely varied activities
and interests, Floyd’s experience also
includes founding the San Francisco Tuba
Quartet, playing with the 49ers Jazz Band
and playing to over 15,000 people in
factories and schools for the Visiting
Artist Series in the Quad Cities of Iowa and
Illinois. A performer at the Aspen Festival
in the summers of 1968 and 1969, Floyd
participated in the Grand Teton Music
Festival from 1975 to 2001.
He assisted Walter
Nirschl in designing an exact copy of the
vintage York tuba played by Arnold Jacobs.
Based in Chicago, Floyd enjoys the outdoors, fly-fishing,
fine wine and his BMW motorcycle.
