Jeff Cogan

Jeff Cogan

Professor Emeritus of Music
Conservatory of Music, College of Performing Arts
Expertise: Guitar Studies; Music Technology
Education:
California State University, Northridge, Bachelor of Music
California State University, Northridge, Master of Arts

Biography

While still a student at California State University at Northridge, Jeffrey Cogan, MA, was honored by being invited to perform for the great Spanish Maestro of the guitar, Andres Segovia. After finishing his studies, he built a career in performing and teaching the guitar at CSUN and at Chapman University. Mr. Cogan has performed around the United States and Europe. In 1998, Cogan was invited to Perigueux, France, to perform and teach at the Ecole Brittain with the acclaimed French guitarist Olivier Chassain. In 1999, Mr. Cogan performed works as diverse as the lute part of the St. John Passion with the William Hall Master Chorale and the contemporary jazz guitar in Fred Katz's Concerto for Buddy at the West Coast Jazz II festival in Newport Beach, CA.

During the spring and summer of 2004, Mr. Cogan was invited to adjudicate different competitions in Austria and France. He was also a featured performer in the Fabritio Caroso guitar festival in Lanuvio, Italy. In the summer of 2005, Mr. Cogan performed a concert for the VIII Festival De Musica De Guitarra, "Villa de Aranda" in Aranda de Duero, Spain.

Mr. Cogan adjudicated the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition in Buffalo, New York in 2006. He also adjudicated the Beatty Classical Guitar Scholarship competition in our nation's capital, Washington D.C. during 2009 and 2010 as well as the competition at the University of Texas at Dallas.

In March of 2009, Chapman University Guitar Ensemble members (under the direction of Jeff Cogan) won top honors in the Brownsville guitar ensemble competition at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Both the university guitar quartet and the duo won first place in the college division during Chapman's inaugural participation. The Chapman University quartet also performed in a master class for the great Romero Family.

In June of 2009, Professor Cogan was honored by the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) with a Lifetime Achievement Award for service to the organization and his work as director of GFA international guitar competition since 1987. During his tenure the annual competition became one of the most prestigious events of its kind and has been held in 20 different locations since 1983, including New Orleans, Charleston, Montreal, Ca., Merida, Mex., and Quebec City, Ca. He now serves as a member of the GFA board of trustees.

Mr. Cogan is the president of the Orange County Guitar Circle, a community organization that supports the classical guitar. The Guitar Circle sponsors guitar concerts by world-renowned artists as well as community members.

Mr. Cogan's work in the Conservatory of Music as director of Guitar Studies and Music Technology (as well as a frequent performer in many of the Conservatory of Music concerts) often won praise for him and his students alike.

Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications

Invited Judge for the preliminary round of the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artists Competition (solo guitar) which was part of the 2017 GFA Convention in Fullerton California.
Received financial support for 4 Chapman student guitarists to participate in the Guitar Foundation of America inaugural International Concert Artists Ensemble Competition held at California State University, Fullerton, During the GFA convention). The quartet performed two works by Roland Dyens.
Invited judge for the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Competition in April, Joseph and Kathleen Mayes of Rowan University were the directors.
My film, "Daniel Friederich - Luthier d’Art" was screened at the Woodstock Museum film festival on August 30, 2016.
Attended the Guitar Foundation of America international convention in Denver, Colorado. As a member of the executive committee, I attended the board meeting.
Organized two "Music at the Malloy"concerts at the Leatherby Library. These concerts featured students who were preparing to perform senior recitals or department recitals.
Organized a student concert for the Orange Public Library in Spring of 2015. Students performed solos and ensembles for an event that attracted community members and library staff.
There were two screenings of my film, Daniel Friederich - Luthier d'Art on the Chapman Campus. One was in the Irvine Lecture Hall, the other was in Oliphant Hall. These were attended by faculty and students. Popcorn was served.
Four of my students participated in the UT Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Competition. This quartet won 1ST PLACE in the collegiate division. These same students were invited to perform in a master class given by Anton Baranov, the featured performer of the event.
November 8, 2013 performed Entre' Acte with Daniel De Arakal for the Bishop's concert, Catholic Church, at the Cultural Center on the Christ Cathedral Campus. (formerly Crystal Cathedral Campus) The concert featured Soprano, Milena Kitic and was organized by former Chapman student, Chad Berlinghieri.
Performed with adjunct professor, Daniel de Arakal for "An Evening with the Bishop" at the home of Catholic Bishop, Kevin Vann. The concert featured Soprano, Milena Kitic and was organized by former Chapman student, Chad Berlinghieri.
Began research and conducted interviews for the Daniel Friederich, luthier project (slated for completion in January 2014), with the following individuals: Scott Tennant, Bernard Mallot, David Chapman, Gaelle Soleil, David Tannenbaum, Pepe Romero, Celin Romero, Benoit Albert, Zoran Dukic, and Jack Sanders.
During April of 2013 I performed as featured soloist with the Laguna Concert Band. The directors of the band are Ed Peterson, Dr. Bill Nicholls and Pete Fournier. Gary Gould was also featured and we performed a duet together.
Organized a student concert for the Orange Public Library in Fall of 2012. Students performed solos and ensembles for an event that attracted community members and library staff.
Featured soloist with the La Mirada Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Robert Frelly, music director, performing Fantasia Para Un Gentílhombre for guitar and orchestra, by Joaquin Rodrigo.
February 2012 – Performed solos and ensembles for the Memorial concert for Richard Glenn in Irvine.
February 2012 - Performed for the California State University, Northridge Concert in remembrance of Dr. Ronald C. Purcell, Professor, music department.
Adjudicatied the Texas Guitar Competition at the University of Texas, Dallas during March, 2012
May 2012 – Performed “Diaraby with “What’s Next?” New Music Ensemble at the Royal-T Café in Culver City. (Vimbayi Kaziboni, Artistic Director)
June 2012 – Performed for the Orange County Guitar Circle Directors Showcase concert in a Quintet of guitars featuring Works by Bach arranged by Richard Glenn.
Adjudicated the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artists Competition
Adjudicated the Pacific Guitar Festival directed by Vasil Chekardzikhov during February in Monrovia, Ca.
Fall performance at the Malloy Performance Portico, Leatherby Library with student, Kira Roden and professor Janet Kao featuring works by Assad, Brouwer, Villa Lobos, and Rodrigo.
Performed a solo Faculty Recital featuring the world premier of Shaun Naidoo’s “Diaraby” for guitar with electronics, and the guitar concerto, Fantasia Para Un Gentílhombre by Joaquin Rodrigo. I was assisted by Pianist, Janet Kao.
November 2011 – Performed “Diaraby” by Shaun Naidoo for the Contemporary Music Concert.
Performed for the Orange County Guitar Directors showcase. Concerto for Guitar by Richard Glenn. June 18, 2011
Music At the Malloy concert performance portico in the Leatherby Library presented by my students on March 18, 2011
Music At the Malloy concert performance portico in the Leatherby Library presented by my students on March 25, 2011.
Music At the Malloy concert performance portico in the Leatherby Library presented by my students on April 1, 2011.
Published the updated version (now with performance score in addition to the parts) of "Thoughts and Afterthoughts" for clarinet and guitar by Gerry Long and classical composers. This new edition is published by Clearnote publications, (www.clearnote.net) The additional score makes it easy to follow the music in a teaching setting and was originally proposed when the project was first initiated. I served as the guitar edition editor, score editor, engraver and general editor for the project.
Helped to prepare the junior recitals of three guitar majors: Kira Roden, Adam Borecki, and Jose Varela.
Helped prepare Tarah Dang to present her senior recital in guitar. This performance was successfully presented and featured works by Bach, Torroba and Llobet.
Helped prepare Henry Allen to present his senior recital in guitar. This performance was successfully presented and featured works by Weiss, Sor and Duarte.
Performance for the Orange County Guitar Circle Directors Showcase of Daniel De Arakal's "Temptations", on June 19 2010.
Performance with Faculty Jazz Septet - September 10, 2010
Performed for Daniel De Arakal's Senior composition recital. Piece entitled "Temptations". May 14, 2010.
Postcard From Keremma, Compact Disc with performances on solo classical guitar by Jeff Cogan. Works by Brouwer, Granados, and Ponce.
12 Essential Studies for Classical Guitar, published by Clearnote Publisher, (www.clearnote.net)
From Keremma music edition issued by Clearnote Publisher, (www.clearnote.net). This is an original composition by Olivier Chassain. I served as editor and engraver of the project.

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