Allyson Cohen

Allyson Cohen is a violinist currently studying with Professor Danielle Belen of the University of
Michigan. Allyson holds a bachelor's degree from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings of
Mercer University where she was a recipient of the presidential scholarship.
Allyson has given solo performances at Carnegie Hall as well as the Kimmel Center. She has
performed as a substitute violinist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, and has played under the
baton of renowned conductors Marin Alsop, Simon Rattle, and Yannick Nezet Seguin, and
Stèphane Denéve among others.
Allyson has a position in Lansing Symphony Orchestra and has acted as one of the
concertmasters for the Macon-Mercer Symphony. She has attended Summer festivals such as
The National Repertory Orchestra, NYO-USA, Bowdoin International Music Festival, The
Manchester Music Festival, The Chautauqua Institute, and in 2021 was a young artist at Rome
Chamber Music Festival. Allyson has had the privilege of taking lessons and masterclasses with
James Ehnes, Miriam Fried, Catherine Cho, Donald Weilerstein, Cho Liang Lin, and Kathleen
Winkler, among others. Allyson has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Lisa
Batiashvili, Clive Greensmith, David Kim, and Robert McDuffie, Victoria Chiang, as well as with
members of the Borromeo, Emerson, Ehnes, and Tokyo string quartets. She has also appeared
in concerts alongside members of R.E.M, The Rolling Stones, and the Allman Brothers. Allyson
has appeared on NPR’s From the Top and has recorded for SiruisXm and PBS.
With her string quartet, the Mia Quartet, she has been a finalist at the Coltman Chamber Music
Competiton, the winner of the Audience Choice Award at the St. Paul String Quartet
Competiton, 3rd prize winner at the Briggs Chamber Music Competiton, and one of two quartets
to recieve a fellowship to study at the Encore Chamber Music Festival. They have worked
extensively with members of the Cavani, Calidore, Pacifica, Telegraph, and Verona quartets
among others.
Allyson is also the founder of Concert Music Outreach Collective (cmoutreachcollective.org), a
nonprofit dedicated to bringing high level chamber music performances to underserved
communities in the Southeastern Michigan area.