Peter Cosbey

“His virtuosity is apparent with every stroke of his bow.” (Echo Germanica) Acclaimed for his versatility in a wide variety of genres, Thunder Bay-based cellist Peter Cosbey enjoys a career as a chamber musician, soloist, orchestral musician, composer, and educator.

As a highly sought after chamber player, Mr. Cosbey is a founding member of one of Canada’s most dynamic groups, The Annex Quartet. Making their American debut in Carnegie Hall, The Annex Quartet has appeared in hundreds of concerts, including acclaimed performances at Luminato, and the Stratford Summer Music Festival. Recently, the group collaborated with Jane Bunnett on their “Jane Bunnett and Maqueque” album, which won the 2015 JUNO Award for Jazz Record of the Year. Aside from his duties with The Annex Quartet, Mr. Cosbey has been a guest cellist with the Afiara Quartet, Hausmann Quartet and the Grammy nominated ARC Ensemble.

Mr. Cosbey performs regularly with the Consortium Aurora Borealis, a period performance group located in Thunder Bay. In addition to frequently appearing as soloist with the Consortium Aurora Borealis he has recently appeared as soloist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
As an orchestral player, Mr. Cosbey is a former Assistant Principal of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with many orchestras including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada, Esprit Orchestra, and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to ‘The Roaring Twenties’ and ‘Latinoamericana’ albums recorded with The Annex Quartet he is also the cellist on the ‘Folktales’ album by Joanna Chapman-Smith. His performances with The Cosbey Trio, Quinsin Nachoff, pianist Mariko Kamachi, and the ARC Ensemble have been recorded for broadcasts on CBC radio.

Peter Cosbey is an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher and chamber music coach. He is currently teaching at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Canada. In 2015, Peter had a guest conducting engagement with the Clark County School District Honor Orchestra in Las Vegas. He has taught and performed at many summer music festivals and programs including Regina Summer Strings, JVL, and Music at Port Milford.

A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School as a student of Bryan Epperson, Mr. Cosbey began his cello study in Regina with Cameron Lowe.