Richard Cooke, Grammy Award Winner

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Richard studied music through voice, piano, and trumpet, but an organized band was not his calling. He went on to attend Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where the improvisation of blues and jazz re-ignited his musical fire. He overcame the constraints of self-consciousness and reveled in the freedom of spontaneous music making. That is where the seed for Freenotes Harmony Park was planted. Though he was blessed with talent, his mission was to bring an experiential component to music wherein anyone could step up to an instrument and play.

Richard continues to play music professionally, including collaborating with Paul Winter on the 2007 Grammy Award-winning Crestone album.

Areas of Discipline: Music

PlayCore Partnership: Natural Harmony: An Instrumental Guide to Blending Outdoor Music & Community