Jim Cockey was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but has spent most of his life in Idaho. He holds a composition degree from the University of Oregon where he studied with Homer Keller and Hal Owen. He has received numerous grants, commissions and honors, including a gold album for his work with members of the Moody Blues, and the Idaho Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. Recent commissions include works for the Langroise Trio, the Darkwood Consort, and the Continental Harmony project with the Carson City Symphony. Other commissions include the Boise Philharmonic, Bill Quist, Keith Young, and Bunting Dance. Future projects include String Games - a work for the Cassatt Quartet and the Opera Idaho Children's Chorus based on stories from the Nez Perce tradition, and a violin concerto for Geoffrey Trabichoff.

I would like to thank Bela Bartok for awakening me to the wonders of music, and to Berni Cockey for being my fan and advisor all those may years and months.