Ann Elizabeth Cooper passed away on July 3, 2025, at her home in Shelburne, Vt.
Ann was born in Kingston, N.Y., on May 25, 1955, to Donald and Patricia Cooper. Her early youth was spent growing up in Kingston and later in Greenwich, Conn. Circa 1971, the family moved to Burlington, and thus began Ann’s lifelong loyalty to Vermont.
Ann was a gifted violinist and teacher throughout her life. At an early age, she demonstrated her promise for the violin by outperforming her father during family chamber musicals. Her talents were further developed during her high school years as a member of both the Burlington High School (BHS) Orchestra and the Vermont Youth Orchestra. After graduating from BHS in 1973, she continued her violin studies and earned a degree in violin performance from the University of Vermont in 1977, studying under Dr. T.L. Reed and Evelyn Read. During that time, she also studied with Linda Cerone at Ivan Galamian’s Meadowmount School of Music and, for several years after graduation, with Andrew Jennings of the Concord String Quartet.
Throughout her violinist career, Ann performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Hanover Chamber Orchestra, the Middlebury Chamber Soloists, Orchestra of Northern New York, Opera North of New Hampshire and the Green Mountain Opera. In addition, she performed in various chamber ensembles for weddings and social occasions.
As a dedicated teacher, Ann had a thriving studio for violin students in her home in Shelburne, fostering the growth and development of many young aspiring violinists. In addition, she shared her skill and passion for the violin as a faculty member of the Vermont Conservatory for the Arts during the late ’70s and early ’80s and as an applied faculty member at Middlebury College in the late ’90s.
Ann is predeceased by her parents and her brother, David. Ann is survived by her husband, Stefen Korsko; her sister, Barbara Cooper; and several nieces and nephews.
No services are planned at this time. If you would like to honor Ann’s memory, please feel free to donate to the Vermont Youth Orchestra and/or the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.
This article appears in The Cartoon Issue 2025.