Thomas R Cockrell

Interests

Research

Opera, symphonic music conducting

Teaching

Orchestra, opera, orchestral and opera conducting

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Presentations

• Cockrell, T. R. (2009, Summer). Conducting Masterclass. Chongshin Conducting Festival and Competition. Chongshin University, Seoul, South Korea.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2008, Spring). Conducting Masterclass. College Orchestra Directors Association National Conference. Brigham Young University.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2007, March 17, 2007). Conducting masterclass, rehearsal. Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2007, November 28). CU Boulder, conducting masterclass and orchestra rehearsal. College of Music, University of Colorado, Boulder.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2007, October 16, 2007). Conducting masterclass. University of Michigan, School of Music.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2007, October 18, 2008). Conducting masterclass. CCM, University of Cincinnati.

Creative Productions

• Cockrell, T. R. (2024. Opera in the Ozarks Summer Season 2024.  Conducted seven performances each of Verdi's La traviata, Giannini's Beauty and the Beast and Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges.  As artistic director of the organization I supervise all artistic activities including operas The Crucible and Little Red Riding Hood.  . Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. Eureka Springs, Arkansas. https://opera.org
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Copland The Tender Land
  Eight performances, double cast. Inspiration Point Theater. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. https://opera.org
  More info

  Music director and conductor for fully staged production of Copland's Opera
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Donizetti, L'elisir d'amore
  Four performances, double cast
  I conducted the first final four performances taking over the run from music director Anthony Barrese. Inspiration Point Theater. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. https://opera.org
  More info

  Conductor for fully staged production of Donizetti's opera
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Offenbach, Orphée aux Enfers
  Eight performances, double cast
  I conducted the first four performances then passed off to assistant conductor while I took over the final four performances of L'elisir d'amore.. Inspiration Point Theater. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. https://opera.org
  More info

  Music director and conductor for fully staged production of Offenbach's Operetta
• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Puccini:  La Rondine 
  Eight performances, double cast. Inspiration Point Theater. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. https://opera.org
  More info

  Music director and conductor for fully staged production of Puccini's opera

Creative Performances

• Cockrell, T. R. (2024. Fall 2024 on campus I conducted five performances of three programs with the Arizona Symphony and UA Opera Theater students. These included:• September 20: In Awe of Nature Vaughan Williams  The Lark Ascending featuring Elena Chernova-Davis, violin Mahler  Symphony No. 3, “What the animals of the forest tell me” featuring  Jason Carder, cornet Beethoven Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”• October 19   Dame Judith Weir Oboe Concerto featuring Sara Fraker in the US Premiere.  DMA students conducted brass fanfares by Roussel, Debussy and Dukas and Handel’s Concerto Grosso “Alexander’s Feast) • November: Die Fledermaus three performances and oversaw DMA student Fátima Corona del Toro’s conducting of the final performance.. ASO, UA Opera Theater Performances. Crowder Hall.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2024. Spring 2024 on campus I conducted four performances of three programs with the Arizona Symphony and UA Opera Theater students. These included:
  • February 3-4 President’s Concerts: supervised concerti and conducted  Verdi  Overture to La forza del destino• March 3: Symphonic Storytelling–significant projections and narration for Shuying  Li Purple Mountains, a co-commission with the Hartt School and others  Berlioz  Romeo Alone - Grand Festivities at the Capulet Palace Stravinsky  Suite from The Firebird 1919 • April 26:  Sibelius Symphony No. 2.  DMA students lead the UA Philharmonic in works by Mendelssohn and Smetana. Arizona Symphony, UA Opera performances. Crowder Hall.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. American Composers Emerge.  American Composers of the early 20th Century:  Griffes The White Peacock, William Grant Still Summerland, Barber Overture to The School for Scandal and Ives Symphony No. 2.  A Concert in Context with Brian Moon.  Projections, commentar, audio examples of Ives singing "They are there" and demonstration of themes and tunes in the Ives.   .  . Arizona Symphony Concert. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  A truly glorious collaboration of and performance of classical and traditional/popular works by a Baroque colonial-period compose, performed by JL Puerta and students, José Luis and Cockrell also provided PowerPoint and comments to guide the listening.  The Symphony then performed Revueltas Janitzio, Chávez Sinfonia India then various arrangements of mariachi songs for orchestra and mariachi, led by artists of Mariachi Cobre, ensemble in residence at the Epcot Center. At capacity with an enthusiastic audience, many new to UArizona and FFSoM performances.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Arizona Opera Theater: Bizet/Brook La tragédie de Carmen.. Two opera performances. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Music director and conductor for production of Peter Brook's powerful retelling of Bizet's opera. Extensive rehearsal not on teaching load February to mid April. M 4:00-5:20, W 4:00-6:20, F 4:00-6:20.  Supervision of singers and student conductor Fátima Corona del Toro.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Arizona Opera Theater: Dido and Aeneas. Three opera performances, final performance by DMA student. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Music director and conductor for production of Purcell's Baroque gem.  Extensive rehearsal not on teaching load:  Mid-September until mid-November.  M 4:00-5:20, W 4:00-6:20, F 4:00-6:20.  Supervision of singers and student conductor Alex Bennett who "stepped in" with little orchestra/stage time to conduct the final performance.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Arizona Symphony Orchestra concert. 49th Annual President's Concert. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Four concerto movements, soloists selected by area competitions, conducted by DMA students Ueda and Suárez, supervised by Cockrell who conducted Ukraininan composer Skoryk's Melody and Borodin's Polovtsian Dances to conclude the program.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Arizona Symphony Orchestra, UArizona HS String Festival. Concert, afternoon outreach and workshop. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Performance of Martinu Rhapsody Concerto with Dr. Molly Gebrian soloist followed by Dvorak Symphony No. 7
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Arizona Symphony contribution to Music+Festival large ensemble concert. Concert. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Performance of Daniel Asia's Cello Concerto with guest soloist, Julian Schwarz, and Druckman's Summer Lightning.  Prepared on a very short, three-week cycle.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2023. Broadway Cabaret

  Two performances, full company

  . Cabaret performances. Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Arizona Opera Theater:  Le nozze di Figaro. Four opera performances. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Music director and conductor for production of Mozart's masterpiece.  Extensive rehearsal not on teaching load:  Mid-September until mid-November.  M 4:00-5:20, W 4:00-6:20, F 4:00-6:20.  Supervision of singers and student conductors Ueda and Corona Del Toro who who "stepped in" with little orchestra/stage time to conduct the final performance.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Arizona Symphony Orchestra concert. Annual President's Concert. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Four concerto movements, soloists selected by area competitions, conducted by DMA students Ueda and Suárez, supervised by Cockrell who conducted Bartok's Dance Suite to conclude the program.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Arizona Symphony contribution to Music+Festival large ensemble concert. Concert. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Performance of Augusta Read Thomas's Eos:  Goddess of the Dawn and Strauss's Duet Concertino with faculty colleagues Jackie Glazier and Marissa Olegario.  Prepared on a very short, three-week cycle.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Broadway Cabaret

  Two performances, full company. Cabaret performances. Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point.

• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Celebration of Mexican Music:  Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Mariachi Arizona, Grupo Folcloric Miztontli, guest artists from Mariachi Cobre. Arizona Symphony Concert. Crowder Hall: FFSOM, CFA Office of the Dean (funding).
  More info

  A truly glorious collaboration of and performance of classical and traditional/popular works by a Baroque colonial-period compose, performed by JL Puerta and students, José Luis and Cockrell also provided PowerPoint and comments to guide the listening.  The Symphony then performed Revueltas Janitzio, Chávez Sinfonia India then various arrangements of mariachi songs for orchestra and mariachi, led by artists of Mariachi Cobre, ensemble in residence at the Epcot Center. At capacity with an enthusiastic audience, many new to UArizona and FFSoM performances. 
• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Sondheim:  A Little Night Music

  Seven performances, double cast. Opera performances. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point. http://https:/opera.org

• Cockrell, T. R. (2022. UA Opera Theater:  Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. Opera performances, four. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Four performances to two difficult Puccini one-acts.  Final performance conducted by DMA students Ueda and Suárez.  Extensive amount of rehearsal (10 weeks) to prepare from February to April, M 4:00-5:20, W 4:00-6:20, F 4:00-6:20--conducting, note taking, supervising student conductors.
• Cockrell, T. R., & Cockrell, T. R. (2022. Arizona Symphony Orchestra, UArizona HS String Festival. Concert, afternoon outreach and workshop. Crowder Hall: FFSOM.
  More info

  Performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 2, Enescu Romanian Rhapsody No. 2 and Respighi, Pini di Roma.
• Cockrell, T. R. (2021. 20 Opera in the Ozarks productions 2011-2021. Opera performances, 10 years. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point.
  More info

  Since 2011, I placed my performances and work as artistic director of Opera in the Ozarks under CFA creative activity.  This work is instead professional creative activity adjacent to my work at UArizona. For details of this substantial body of administration, direction and conducting see that area of UAVitae.  Have at it.In addition to the main stage productions listed below, each season included opera scenes programs or Broadway cabarets, and a Studio Artist program outreach production for children which I oversee. Productions in parentheses:  supervision as artistic director, not conductor.2011:  Little Women, Le nozze di Figaro, (Die Fledermaus)2012:  Die Zauberfloete, La bohème (A Little Night Music)2013:  Madama Butterfly, L'elisir d'amore (The Pirates of Penzance)2014:  Into the Woods, Così fan tutte (Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi)2015:  Les contes d'Hoffmann, La traviata (La cenerentola)2016:  Il tabarro/Pagliacci, Don Giovanni, (Albert Herring)2017:  Carmen, Susannah, (Le nozze di Figaro)2018:  Il barbiere di Siviglia, The Ballad of Baby Doe, (Die Fledermaus)2019:  Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail, La bohème, (Little Women)2020:  Cancelled for plague.  Significant online offerings for artists and alums2021:  Cendrillon, (The Magic Flute, Lucia di Lammermoor -- conducted 6 performances)2022:  A Little Night Music, La rondine, (Così fan tutte)

Creative Works

• Opera in the Ozarks, online sessions for singers and alumni; Zoom, YouTube; NA; June 2020; N/A; Five-week series of 1-1.5 hour presentations on a a number of topics of interest to aspiring opera singers, students and young professionals.  Accompanying PowerPoint presentations, handouts.