Daniel Cooper

Dan Cooper is a Rochester, NY native and guitarist with a B.A. in Music from Roberts Wesleyan Univeresity and an M.M. in Composition and Theory from Stephen F. Austin State University. He studied guitar under Dr. Timothy Shannon and virtuoso Nili Brosh (Cirque du Soleil, Dethklok, Danny Elfman), and composition with Dr. Stephen Lias, Mason Lieberman, and Vincent Diamante.

Specializing in video game and film music composition, Dan was a contributing composer on Space Smack! (available on Steam) through a partnership with Southern Methodist University. His thesis Escape Beneath: an Original Game Score Inspired by an Analysis of Garry Schyman’s Music combines analysis and original compositions for the upcoming video game Escape Beneath.

With over a decade of teaching experience, Dan has worked with students of all levels, emphasizing both musicality and technique. He currently teaches at the Roberts Wesleyan Community Music School and has taught at the Rochester Academy of Music and Art, continuing remote lessons even while based in Los Angeles.

As an active performer, Dan has collaborated with numerous artists and groups in Rochester and LA, including ConArtist, Powerslave, RnB Classics Live, Vanessa Bejine, and various churches and pit orchestras. Whether on stage or in the studio, music remains his second home.