52 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 

ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC

Young 
Composer

Jonah Cohen 
mentors other young 
musicians as he looks 
forward to hearing his 
commissioned work 
performed live.

SUZANNE CHESSLER 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

J

onah Cohen likes to hum but not 
just melodies heard on recordings 
or performed on stages. Often, 
core melodies originate in his own 
mind, and he hums away while devel-
oping them into full compositions.
Working with instruments and 
composing software, the 17-year-old 
senior at Interlochen Arts Academy has 
earned significant recognition for pieces 
he created. 
“Vis Viva,” an example written 
for orchestra, was selected a winner 
in the Young Composers Challenge 
and will be recorded by the Orlando 
Philharmonic Orchestra before its per-
formance at the NYCC Composium in 
April. “Hineni,” an example of a piece 
for cello choir, was inspired during 
Temple Israel services and elevated him 
to Merit Winner in Classical Music 
by the National Foundation for the 
Advancement of Artists in the organi-
zation’s YoungArts programming. 

