Background
Varon, Lorna Cooke de was born on January 17, 1921 in Western Springs, Illinois, United States. Daughter of Vernon Walter and Hazel Mildred (Watts) Cooke.
Varon, Lorna Cooke de was born on January 17, 1921 in Western Springs, Illinois, United States. Daughter of Vernon Walter and Hazel Mildred (Watts) Cooke.
Bachelor, Wellesley College, 1942; Master of Arts, Radcliffe College, 1945; Doctor of Music honoris causa, New England Conservatory, 1988.
Assistant conductor Radcliffe Choral Society, Radcliffe-Harvard Choir, 1942-1944. Conductor Bryn Mawr College Choir, 1944-1947. Conductor chorus, chairman choral department New England Conservatory Music, Boston, 1947-1988, conductor chorus for concerts with Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1952-1986.
Concert performer New England Conservatory Chorus, tours in the United States, Europe, Russia, Israel, China. Conductor Israel Summer Festival, 1977-1979. Conductor, teacher choral conducting Tanglewood Festival Chorus, 1952-1966.
Conductor New England Conservatory Camerata, 1989—2006. Professor emerita New England Conservatory. Conductor Longy Chamber Chorus, 1989—2005.
Guest conductor Cameron Singers, Israel, 1984, Beijing Radio Chorus and Orchestra, 1987. Chairman Choral Institute of Composers Conference, 1983—1985. Choral advisory panel National Endowment Arts.
Conductor New England Conservatory Chamber Singers, 1982—1987, Monadnock Music Festival. Founder de Varonistas (small chamber chorus), 2005, conductor, since 2006.
Member Cambridge Arts Council. Member American Choral Conductors Association, Pi Kappa Lambda.
Married Jose de Varon, May 14, 1944. Children: David, Joanna, Cristina, Alexander.