Darin Cochran

Darin Cochran is an instrumentalist, instructor, recording engineer, vocalist, and performer. His career has ventured over many places: Hickman County, Carnegie Hall, University of Illinois, Ryman Auditorium and back to Hickman County.

Music was a part of his life from the day he was born. Cochran began singing as soon as he could talk. Although the instruments he played vary over the span of his career, he began with the mandolin, followed closely by the guitar. He also joined the school band; first playing trumpet then switching to the tuba. Playing in rock bands in high school also added to his experience.

Cochran decided to major in music at Tennessee Tech University. He played the euphonium, a small tuba, in the marching band and concert band. Soon, he began playing with the World-Famous Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble. Through this experience, he was able to play at the New Orleans World’s Fair, Preservation Hall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and later Carnegie Hall. The ensemble recorded two albums. It was during this time that he became principal euphonium.

At about the same time, Cochran was a guitar player in the top jazz band at Tennessee Tech University, known as the Troubadours. While a member of the band, he was able to play with jazz luminaries Louie Bellson, Bob Mintzer, Rich Matteson, and Don Menza. He also served as student leader of this group for 3 years.

Through a recommendation and an audition, Cochran was hired by Top Brass, based in Dayton, Ohio, as a euphonium player. While touring with the band all over the Mid-West and Southeast for 2 years, he performed in many concerts including one with the Sacramento Symphony.

A change in Cochran’s career took him from instrumentalist to that of vocalist. He had a short internship with the Acappella Company in Paris, TN. Acappella Company produced many recordings of Christian acappella music.

The University of Illinois, one of the most prestigious music schools in the country, accepted Cochran after his audition. He received his master’s degree in Brass Performance.

After graduate school, Cochran worked for the Acappella Company for three years. As a recording engineer, he recorded the groups Acappella, AVB and Vocal Union. He soon became a member of Vocal Union. They performed in a countless number of churches, at Opryland and the Ryman Auditorium.

Soon, Cochran was hired by the Nashville Christian School as a music teacher where he started a band program. Later, his career took him to the Renaissance Center in Dickson, TN, where he taught brass, woodwind and mandolin. While there, he became the conductor of the community concert band and the jazz band.

Cochran returned to Hickman County working for the Hickman County School System teaching the Alternative School. After a friend introduced him to the Grinders Switch Ensemble, he played the acoustic guitar and mandolin. Shortly after he joined, he had the opportunity to be the lead guitar of the ensemble. Through this exposure, he has had the opportunity to share the stage with Leona Williams, Lulu Roman and Tommy Cash just to name a few. He has also played at Nashville Palace and performed on the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree.

BACK