Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Anna Cook is a music educator, conductor, and cellist in the Kansas City area. She holds degrees in cello performance and music education from Bethel College, as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership from Fort Hays State University. Anna began her teaching career in Wilson, Kansas, and has served as the orchestra director at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, Kansas since 2015.

Anna has studied cello with Martin Storey, Jakub Omsky, Timothy Archbold, Susan Mayo, and Matthew Herren. She has participated in summer chamber music institutes including Brevard Music Center, Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, and the Kansas City String Quartet Project. Anna has performed with Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Salina Symphony, and the Kansas City Symphony Pro-Am. In addition to classical performances, she has collaborated with a variety of contemporary touring artists including Trampled by Turtles, François Rabbath, Carswell and Hope, and others.

Anna’s conducting experience includes leading full symphony orchestra and top choral ensembles at Bethel College where she studied with Dr. Timothy Shade. She also studied conducting with Daniel Hege during his residency at Music Academy of the West in 2012. As an educator, Anna was recognized with the Horizons Teaching Award during her first year in the Shawnee Mission School District and was later honored as Shawnee Mission School District Teacher of the Year for 2021–2022 and an SMSD All-Star Teacher in 2023. In 2020, orchestras under her direction received recognition from Governor Laura Kelly for excellence in community outreach through the Shawnee Mission North Signature Orchestra Program. Shawnee Mission North orchestras have performed internationally in Italy and Ireland, and have participated in regional festival tours to San Francisco and Chicago.

Anna served as the East-Central Kansas Music Educators Association Orchestra Chair from 2018–2020 and continues to contribute to district and state music education initiatives through committee leadership and clinician work throughout the Kansas City metro. She is honored to serve as the Youth Symphony of Kansas City Debut Conductor since 2024.

Outside of music, Anna enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their twin 6 year old boys, Andy and Hal.