George Cooper ’25, a Mather House music concentrator originally from Los Angeles, is captain of the Harvard men’s baseball team, where he plays infielder/outfielder. To date, Cooper has played in 107 baseball games for the Crimson, batting .303 while scoring 78 runs and logging 135 hits, 26 doubles, seven triples, and six home runs—and driving in 55 runs. A two-time All-Ivy selection, Cooper has posted a .342 on-base percentage and a .434 slugging percentage during his career. Off the field, Cooper loves music and is in the process of producing a mixtape made up of songs produced by student-musicians.
What do you love about baseball?
“Baseball has always been about people for me. Going into battle with my best friends is a privilege I feel very lucky to have had since I was 4 years old. The game has taught me everything…how to be a craft-driven person, work hard, and most importantly value the importance of a team.”
How did you get into music?
“Funny enough I got into the business side of music on road trips to baseball games. Growing up in the Southern California travel baseball scene, every weekend was an hour-long drive. My folks saw the passion I had for playlists and curation and always let me be on aux. Letting an eight-year-old kid play music for most every road trip was a wonderful generosity that has trickled down to my skills in music management and music supervision to this day.”
What’s your daily inspiration?
“Goosebumps. I work with people and projects that let me feel emotion and inspiration. Things that can impact the world in a positive way. Jon Batiste is a musician who embodies this at the highest level and is a tremendous role model for me. Not only does he transcend genre, but he values people and message above all else.”
What is “The Harvard Tape”?
“‘The Harvard Tape’ is a documentary following exceptionally talented Harvard students as they attempt to use their intelligence and determination to conquer the modern-day music industry by releasing a multi-genre compilation album. The message-first studio album features emerging Harvard undergraduate musicians and their collaborators from all over the world, including Singapore, Prague, Jamaica, The Gambia, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Miami, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Each artist has an individual why and message they wish to share with the world, and it is my job to get them heard. This project is able to compete at an industry-standard level thanks to a partnership with my boss and mentor, Ron Laffitte (currently managing Pharrell, Usher, OneRepublic, Backstreet Boys, etc.), Live Nation, and my fellow album executive producer, Adrian Miller (signed or managed RZA, Anderson .Paak, Flo Rida, Coolio, etc.).”
What’s your favorite Harvard class?
“My favorite Harvard class is “Music 22: Film Sound/Film Music,” which I took this past semester. In the early stages of my career, I hope to focus on music documentaries as a way to launch emerging artists, and this class provided some legendary secret sauce. Renowned composer-performer, music innovator, and Professor Jackson, a composer of electroacoustic, chamber, and orchestral music who co-taught the class with the esteemed [Buttenwieser University] Professor [Carolyn] Abbate, has been instrumental in pushing me and ‘The Harvard Tape’ to think deeply about intention and impact throughout my College experience.”
