The Monmouth Symphony works with many talented musicians for the guest solo artists featured in their concert performances. Please find biographies of upcoming guest musicians below.
Raphael Klayman October 27, 2024
New York native violinist Raphael Klayman has been internationally praised for the beauty of his tone, the depth and flair of his musicianship, his vivid rapport with audiences, and his rare balance of virtuosity and sensitivity. He has shared these qualities with audiences through such media as radio, television, concerto performances with orchestra, and innumerable recitals – including a New York Debut at CAMI Hall and a European Debut in Geneva Switzerland, where he performed at the International Red Cross Museum and at the Palace of Athena. His Geneva Debut formed part of Concerts Atlantique's 1990 European International Festival. Selected through competitive auditions, he was among 54 soloists or ensembles chosen to perform at the Festival from over 1,400 applicants and was one of only two solo violinists so chosen. Other solo highlights have included an appearance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. He has also performed chamber music in a number of venues, including New York's Merkin Hall. He has enlarged his repertoire in a personal way by composing many cadenzas, several short pieces, and making numerous arrangements.
In addition to his solo and chamber music activities, Raphael Klayman has played in the American Symphony Orchestra, the New York Pops and various fine ensembles in New York and New Jersey, frequently serving as Concertmaster. Always specializing in classical music, he has been very active in popular music as well. He has worked with Tony Bennett and was invited to be Concertmaster for a Broadway tour of "Miss Saigon". He has served as Concertmaster for Ray Charles, Regis Philbin and Clay Aiken. He also appears in an award-winning music video with Rascal Flatts.
In earlier seasons, Mr. Klayman toured the U.S. three times as a member of the Goldovsky Opera Theatre. He also toured throughout Japan as a member of the New York Symphonic Ensemble, with whom he has also worked in New York's Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall. He is Concertmaster and Personnel Manager of the Angelus Orchestra.
A graduate of the Mannes College of Music in New York where he was a recipient of several scholarships, he also holds a Certificat de Stage from the Centre International de Formation Musicale in Nice, France. His early studies were with two former pupils of the legendary pedagogue, Leopold Auer – Harry Fratkin and Vladimir Graffman. His later teachers included Regis Iandiorio, and he undertook advanced training with three of America's most distinguished virtuosos – Glenn Dicterow, Aaron Rosand, and Charles Libove. His chamber music coaches have included Paul Doktor, Claus Adam, and Lewis Kaplan.
Raphael Klayman's instruments include a number of fine and rare non-violin family and non-western instruments. His violins include three custom-made for him by Edward Maday and three violins custom-made for him by Vittorio Villa. His bows include woks of Simon, Bazin and E. A. Ouchard. His many non-musical interests include other aspects of the Arts and Humanities, reading, book and art collecting and Yoga. He has been listed in the Marquis "Who's Who in Entertainment" and "Who's Who in Emerging Leaders in America", as well as the American Biographical Institute's "International Book of Honor". He also devotes a portion of his time to teaching.
Mr. Klayman's solo CD's are available on the GuarneriRecords label.
March 23, 2025
(coming soon)
Paul Cohen
May 18, 2025
Paul Cohen is a sought-after saxophonist for orchestral and chamber concerts and solo recitals. He has appeared as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Richmond Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Charleston Symphony and the Philharmonia Virtuosi. His many solo orchestra performances include works by Debussy, Creston, Ibert, Glazunov, Martin, Loeffler, Husa, Dahl, Still, Villa-Lobos, Tomasi, and Cowell. He has also performed with a broad range of orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera (NYC), American Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, New Jersey Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Long Island Philharmonic, Group for Contemporary Music, Greenwich Symphony, and New York Solisti.
Dr. Cohen has rediscovered and performed lost saxophone literature, including works for saxophone and orchestra by Loeffler, Florio and Dahl as well as chamber works by Grainger, Ornstein, Sousa, Cowell,
Siegmeister, and Loeffler. As arranger he has written "The Renaissance Book" (Galaxy Music), "Four Piano Blues" and "Our Town" by Copland for saxophone quartet (Boosey and Hawkes). His company, To the Fore Publishers, (www.totheforepublishers.com ) publishes his arrangements as well as original, historical, and contemporary saxophone works. Dr. Cohen frequently presents lectures illustrating his talks with rare instruments, manuscripts, and archival material from his extensive private collection.
The Presser Music Company publishes his arrangements for saxophone choir of "Variations on America" by Charles Ives and the Schumann setting of Billing's "When Jesus Wept". Dr. Cohen has authored two books: The Original Concerto for Saxophone by Ingolf Dahl and The Altissimo Primer, a specialized technique book.
Dr. Cohen holds an MM and DMA degree from the Manhattan School of Music. His teachers have included Galan Kral, Joe Allard, and Sigurd Rascher. He has published more than one hundred articles on the history and literature of the saxophone worldwide Recent CDs include American Landscapes, (American music), Common Ground (chamber music), Heard Again for the First Time (featuring the first recording of the original Dahl Concerto), Soprano Summit (soprano saxophone). and most recently, Center Chamber, featuring the Connosax.
Dr. Cohen is on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, NYU and the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.