Cook receives award for excellence in teaching

Distinguished Professor of Cello Kim Cook was awarded the 2022 Outstanding String Teacher Award by the Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association (PADESTA). Cook has been a cello professor at Penn State since 1991 and has taught students who have won prestigious awards and now occupy positions in orchestras and music schools around the world. Former students have described her as “very encouraging,” “passionate,” “inspirational,” and “the best cello teacher I’ve ever had.” Professionally, Cook has performed as a soloist in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, China, Israel, Jordan, Latin America and throughout the United States. She has toured extensively as an International Artistic Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, presenting concerts and master classes throughout the world. PADESTA designed the annual award to recognize string teachers with six or more years of teaching experience who have advanced the cause and level of string playing and teaching in the states of Pennsylvania and or Delaware. “We are proud to have Kim Cook as a member of PADESTA as an example of excellence and caring for our peers, students, and society,” President of PADESTA Dr. Jeffery Tedford said in an announcement. “We are very happy to recognize Ms. Cook with this award.”