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Dr. Donald Frederick Cook
Dr. Donald Frederick Cook (born 22 May 1937), also known as D.F. Cook, is a Canadian music educator and administrator, pianist, organist, choral director, and composer. Cook is recognized for his contributions to music and cultural life in Canada.

Early Life
Cook was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, on May 22, 1937. Cook would spend summers in New Perlican, Newfoundland visiting his grandparents. Cook took piano lessons as a child, which developed his love of music. Cook also has hobbies other than music, including genealogy, navigation, and sailing.

Education
In 1957, Cook graduated from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Music and an Associate Diploma in piano performance. He was the first musician to be awarded a Lord Beaverbrook Scholarship valued at £1800 in 1957. Using the money awarded from the Lord Beaverbrook Scholarship, Cook attended the Royal College of Music in London, England, where he was a composition student of Lloyd Webber and an organ student of Harold Darke. Cook received his Associate Diploma in Organ Performance and Theory from The Royal College of Music in 1958. In 1964, Cook received an Associate Diploma in Organ Performance from the American Guild of Organists. Cook received a Choirmasters Diploma from the American Guild of Organists in 1965. Also in 1965, Cook graduated from the Union Theological Seminary in New York with a Masters in Church Music. Cook earned his Ph.D. in musicology from King's College, University of London, England, in 1982. For his Ph.D., Cook specialized in English baroque theatre music. His Ph.D. thesis was called "The life and works of Johann Christoph Pepusch, with special reference to his theatre music".

Musicological Articles
As an academic, Cook published numerous articles relating to his study of music and musicology. His published academic articles include:


 * 'A Survey of Hymnody in the Church of England in Eastern Canada to 1909,' Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society, vol 7, Sep 1965


 * 'Françoise Marguérite de l'Epine: the Italian Lady?' Theatre Notebook, vol 35 no 2-3, 1981


 * Venus and Adonis: an English masque "after the Italian manner",' Musical Times, vol 121, 1980


 * 'J.C. Pepusch: an eighteenth-century musical bibliophile,' Soundings, University College Cardiff Press, vol 9, 1982

Music Career
Cook had a varied career with experience as a church musician, conductor, and an educator and administrator. Cook started his music career in 1957.

Experience as a Church Musician

 * Organist and choirmaster for the St. George the Martyr, Queen's Square London, England (1957-58)


 * Organist and choirmaster for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, Newfoundland (1958-62)


 * Organist and choir director for Wesley Memorial Church Moncton, New Brunswick (1962-63)


 * Organist and music director for The Universalist Church, New York City (1963-65)


 * Organist and choirmaster for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, Newfoundland (1965-67)
 * Organist and choirmaster for St. Thomas' Cathedral, St. John's, Newfoundland (1967-71)


 * Guest organist and choirmaster at Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England (1983)


 * Organist and choirmaster of the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, Newfoundland (1978-92)

Cook's choirs travelled around the world and received numerous awards. Cook's choir at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland, produced two recordings: Evensong and Hymns (Waterloo WR-8033) and Christmas at the Newfoundland Cathedral: A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols (Waterloo WR-8034).
 * Organist and choir director of Dundas Street Centre United Church, London, Ontario (1995-98)

Experience as a Conductor

 * Conductor for the Memorial University Festival Choir and Orchestra (1968-81)


 * Conductor and Pianist for The Walking Happy Jazz Ensemble (1972-78)


 * Founding conductor of the Memorial University Chamber Choir (1977-85)

Experience as an Educator & Administrator
Cook started his teaching career in 1958 as an elementary and high school music teacher at Bishop Feild Boys' School in St. John's, Newfoundland. From 1962-63, Dr. Cook was a visiting lecturer in the department of music at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. Cook was a high school music teacher at Bishop College in St. John's, Newfoundland, from 1965-68. In 1968, Cook was the founding director of the School of Music at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Memorial University). From 1968-92, Cook worked as a Professor and Dean at the School of Music at Memorial University. Cook was the Principal at Conservatory Canada from 1992-2000. Cook retired in 2000.

Achievements and Awards
In 1992, Cook was awarded the Order of Canada for his musical contributions to Canadian society. Also in 1992, Memorial University named a recital hall in the music building after Cook, called the D.F. Cook Recital Hall. The Music Council of the Newfoundland Teachers' Association named Cook an Honorary Life Member in 1997. For his significant contributions to Memorial University, Memorial University awarded Cook with a Doctors of Laws honorary degree (honoris causa) in 1999. In 2002, Cook was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal for his contributions to public life. Cook was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Medal in 2012 for his significant contributions to music in Canada.