India Cooke, violinist, composer and educator, performs nationally and internationally, from improv, jazz, to classical. As one of California's most respected contract artists, she has played with such legends as Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, K.D. Lang, and was a featured soloist in performances with Joe Williams and the Louie Bellson Orchestra. She has also played with Pharaoh Sanders, Peter Kowald, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Pauline Oliveros, George Lewis, Joelle Leandre, Amiri Baraka, and many others. As a recording artist, she recorded and released to critical acclaim, her 1997 Grammy nominated debut CD as a leader, "Music and Arts, India Cooke - Redhanded". 2005 brought the Red Toucan release of "Firedance", with Joelle Leandre, bass, recorded live at the Guelph Jazz Festival. She was featured on Leo Records' "Black Saint What We Live Fo(u)r with Sun Ra and His Arkestra, Hat Musics Nomadic Winds, Plainisphares' African Roots of Jazz, and Sparkling Beatnik Records' "The Circle Trio - Live at the Meridian", and has recorded sessions for Atlantic, Fantasy, and Stax Records. As a classical musician, India has performed with the San Francisco Bay Area symphony and opera orchestras, chamber ensembles, and Broadway shows. Ms. Cooke currently teaches at Mills College, the San Francisco Community Music Center, and her private studio, India’s Music Room. AFFILIATIONS American Federation of Musicians, Local 6 International Society of Improvised Music, board member Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Chi Chapter Music Teachers National Association American String Teachers Association For more information: India’s Music Roomhttp://www.indiasmusicroom.com/indiasmusicroom/Welcome.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0