Celebrating Dr. Cobbs’ 40 years making music in our community - Congratulations!
Music Director & Conductor
Dr. Paul-Elliott Cobbs
Having conducted in Snohomish County for over 40 years, he is well known for his musical expertise and dedication to stellar symphonic performances as well as music education. Renowned in the cradle of 18th century classicism and 19th century romanticism—Austria and in Germany—Maestro Cobbs is a unique voice in the international music community. Educated at the Akademie für Musik, Vienna, University of Washington and Wayne State University, Cobbs possesses an intimate knowledge of European masterworks combined with rare expertise in American multiculturalism.
A popular guest conductor, Cobbs appears frequently with orchestras and ensembles in Europe, Asia and the United States, including Vienna's Festival Chamber Orchestra, members of the Dresden and Leipzig Opera, the Kamimura Wind Ensemble in Japan, and the Seattle Symphony. Other recent appearances in Poland include Filharmonia Szczeinska, Filharmonia Opolska, Filharmonia Baltycka and the Artur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra. He has had three Carnegie Hall appearances, toured the Washington DC area, performed in Boston Symphony Hall and in 2010 he conducted the Sussex Symphony in Brighton, England to critical acclaim and was invited to be their “Regular Guest Conductor”.
Having completed nearly 5 years as director of orchestral programs for Central Washington University, Dr. Cobbs is currently celebrating his 27th season as Music Director for the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association. In 2008, Cobbs received, with his wife, Loma, the Lifetime Achievement Award from ArtsFund, located in Seattle, Washington. He was honored in 2012 by Sigma Alpha Iota when he was initiated as a Distinguished Member, National Arts Associate. In 2023, Dr. Cobbs was awarded the Washington State Governor’s Arts and Heritiage Legacy Award.