Ansel Cohen is a freelance musician and cellist currently living in New Jersey. He can regularly be found anywhere from recording studios to concert halls, orchestra pits to wedding venues. Always in search of fresh and exciting avenues of musical expression, he thrives working with recording and contemporary artists while also exploring more traditional avenues of chamber music, large ensembles, and theatrical productions. He can be heard in the TV and film scores of "Indignation", "Christmas Cowboy", "Duke and the Buffalo", and "Inspector Ike". On-screen Ansel has appeared in Steven Spielberg/Martin Scorsese/Bradley Cooper's film "Maestro" centered around the life of Leonard Bernstein. As a live performer he’s shared the stage with Sofia Carson, Mark O'Connor, Ruff Ryders, Kimberley Locke, and Josh Groban. As a session cellist he's worked with artists such as Sky Ferreira, Roy Blair, Stanaj, Sessa, Jesse Harris, Wild Nothing, Charlie Rosen, Billy Martin, Ryan Power, Sami Stevens, Tredici Bacci, Cale Hawkins and Soyuz. 

   Ansel's humble cello beginnings were in Ft. Myers, Florida at the start of 8th grade. After one year of progress he was fortunate enough to audition and attend Fiorello H. LaGuardia Performing Arts High School in NYC (a school where his paternal grandparents had attended and met decades before). Around this time he was afforded the opportunity to receive private lessons on scholarship with Marion Feldman through the Manhattan School of Music's Precollege division. As a result of the 2008 recession it was in the cards to return to Florida. He was able to later continue cello studies in high school with Ross Harbaugh (University of Miami). During his summer times at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in Hancock, NY he was elated to study with Seth Parker Woods and Judy Greenstone among others. Ansel's undergraduate cello studies began in Tallahassee, FL at Florida State University with Greg Sauer, continued in Boston, MA at Berklee College of Music with Owen Young and Mike Block, and concluded in Brooklyn, NY at Brooklyn College with Nick Canellakis. 

     As a recipient of Brooklyn College’s De Los Mederos Award for excellence in contemporary music, Ansel continues to strive for modern approaches and artistic excellence in his daily work - despite having a formidable classical background he finds the most joy in groove-based music and use of improvisation. His passions include his three cats, hiking and the outdoors, driving, and exploring new destinations.