Biography

Michael Andrew Cooney (Mac) of Fairfield, CT, received his Master of Music degree (M.Mus) and Bachelor of Music degree (B.Mus) in piano performance from the University of Connecticut, as a student of Dr. Neal Larrabee. He also studied jazz piano and theory with Ellen Rowe and Dave Santoro. Mr. Cooney has performed as soloist with the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble, Eastern Connecticut Symphony, Harkness Summer Music Festival Orchestra and the Meriden Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in master classes with artists such as Steven Osborne, Harold Danko, Dr. Billy Taylor, Awadagin Pratt, and Philip Setzer of the Emerson String Quartet.

In addition to his performing, Mr. Cooney studied composition with Dr. Avo Somer. The Faculty Arts Trio of the University of Connecticut premiered his piano trio entitled "Velvet Trio, Op. 5" which was written after a visit to Prague, Czech Republic, in 2000. He was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Dartington International Summer School in Devon, England, to study composition with Kurt Schwertsik of the Vienna Conservatory. During his residence, he composed a work for cello and piano, "Op. 6" which was premiered by members of the Viennese 20th century Ensemble. His most recent compositions include a setting of 5 Emily Dickinson poems for voice and piano, two mass settings: Mass of the Assumption and Novus Missarum Solemnia; and a setting of 3 original poems by poet Michael O'Rourke. He is the recipient of the ASCAP plus award for his contributions to American Music in 2011.

He is an adjunct Professor of Music at Fairfield University, in the department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Mac completed earned a Graduate Diploma in Film and Game composing from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe in 2023.

He is a member of various societies, including: Pi Kappa Lambda (national music honor society); the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as both composer and publisher; The Society of Composers and Lyricists; Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
- IMDb mini biography by: Michael Cooney