Paul Cox
Leading a multi-faceted career in the arts as composer, performer, writer, and curator,
Paul Cox began his position as Assistant Curator of Musical Arts of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1996. In 1999, he became co-director of the internationally recognized Aki Festival of New Music (two-time winner of the ASCAP / CMA Award for Adventurous Programming), which recently produced an 18-concert series featuring the music of over 60 composers from around the world. While at the CMA, he has helped produce hundreds of performances ranging from baroque opera to Broadway show tunes to the latest avant-garde performance art. His duties include selecting artists and lecturers; producing weekly radio broadcasts and a series of CD recordings; overseeing marketing; developing new programs with Karel Paukert; managing budgets, staffing, and licensing; and acting as a liaison to the Musart board of trustees. Cox also periodically gives pre-concert lectures, moderates post-concert discussions, and writes articles for Museum publications.
Born and raised in Sitka, Alaska, Mr. Cox received a bachelor of music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1992. He pursued additional study at London's Royal College of Music, Rice University, the Aspen School of Music, and Yale's Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. In 1999, he received the certificate in non-profit management from Case Western Reserve University.
An active chamber musician, Cox has performed with numerous soloists and ensembles, including the Cavani String Quartet, Da Camera Chamber Players, Syzygy (Houston), marimbist Robert Van Sice, and organist Karel Paukert, among others. In addition, he has premiered new works written for marimba and various Western and Asian instruments (pipa, kayagum, and guzheng) at the CrossSound New Music Festival in Alaska. As a composer, his latest work, Variations On A Summer Day for soprano and chamber ensemble, was premiered in at the August 2001 CrossSound Festival and performed again in March 2002, by the Oberlin Contemporary Ensemble.
Cox writes CD reviews for the online publication
Oberlin Online and has lectured at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Oberlin College. In January 2000, he moderated a panel discussion on contemporary music at the Chamber Music America Conference.