Mr. Cooper was guest conductor of the XIVth Commonwealth Games closing ceremonies, appearing with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as soloist. In Europe, his engagement as guest conductor for the Mozart Wochen of the Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele prompted high critical praise. His appearances with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra have generated considerable enthusiasm and acclaim across the whole gamut of programs, showing his deep affinity for repertoire of enormous stylistic range. Mr. Cooper has twice received conducting fellowships from the Fund for the Arts in Chautauqua County, New York.

In past seasons, Mr. Cooper has appeared regularly as guest conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestras of Buffalo and Rochester and he also returns annually as guest conductor of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. He has conducted Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde at the Skaneateles Festival and returned to open their season this past summer. In recent seasons he has made his debuts with the Spokane Symphony, the Erie Philharmonic, and with the Kansas City Symphony, and he returned to New Zealand to conduct the millennium celebrations there with the Auckland Philharmonia. He has also recently conducted the North Carolina All State Orchestra and made his debut appearance with Syracuse Opera, conducting Mozart's Cosi fan tutte as well as returning to Ottawa's Thirteen Strings for a fourth consecutive year.

A commissioned composer, Mr. Cooper has been especially active creating works designed to introduce young audiences to the orchestra. His latest work, written for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, is a setting of the tale of Rumpelstiltzkin for narrator and orchestra, and is a companion piece to his earlier Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Boyz in the Wood, for Coloratura Soprano and Rap Singer will receive over a dozen performances in the current season while Song of the Wolf, a recasting of the story of The Three Little Pigs with the wolf as an environmentalist, continues to delight audiences young and old wherever it is erformed. Mr. Cooper's music often is an eclectic blend of modern and established styles with interactive participation of the audience. It reflects his belief that orchestral music is a living, vital, and relevant part of our society, able to be appreciated by all.

Mr. Cooper has recorded for Delos International, Atoll, Ode, Mark, and Kiwi Pacific recordings. As a conductor, his most recent release, a CD Devoted to the premier recordings of the string music of New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn, has been enthusiastically received. In recent seasons, Mr. Cooper released Points in a Changing Circle featuring him as trumpet soloist in works by New Zealand composers and a recording of his own compositions featuring the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. With this, Mr. Cooper has reached the milestone of having CD recordings of him as conductor, performer, and composer, all currently available in the catalogue.