Position: Assistant Professor, Trumpet
Location: Armstrong Hall, Room 35
Email: mbowden@su.edu
Employed Since: 2019
Educational History:
The Curtis Institute, B.M.; Yale University, M.A.
Professional Highlights:
Classical trumpeter and gold medal Global Music Award winner Mary Elizabeth Bowden has been described by Gramophone Magazine as “brilliant” and “radiant in new repertoire for trumpet.” Bowden, a Yamaha Performing Artist, is highly regarded for her artistry and virtuosity as a soloist, and has been praised for the clarity, purity and power of her sound. Bowden released her debut album, “Radiance,” on Summit Records featuring new American works. She has been featured on MPR’s “New Classical Tracks” with Julie Amacher, which is being aired on NPR stations nationwide.
Bowden is the first prize winner of the International Women’s Brass Conference Trumpet Competition. She is on the roster for the World and European Brass Association. She has performed as a soloist with Montana’s Big Sky Festival, Pampa Brass at the Maspalomas International Trumpet Festival in Gran Canaria, Evansville Philharmonic, Peninsula Symphony (California), Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Army Wind Band at the Velika Gorica Brass Festival, Festival Amadeus Strings (Montana), Springfield Symphony (Missouri), Naples Symphony, Fifth Avenue Chamber Orchestra (Florida), Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, San Juan Symphony, Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra and New Haven Chamber Orchestra, among several others. She has performed with trumpet soloist Jouko Harjanne at the Lieksa Brass Week in Finland, where she also served on the jury of the Lieksa International Trumpet Competition. At The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, she performed Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets with trumpeters Jens Lindemann and Ryan Anthony. She was also awarded the Public Prize from the Perrenoud Foundation International Music Competition. Bowden frequently performs in recital both in solo programs and as the Dash Duo with her husband, trumpeter David Dash. Dash is the assistant professor of trumpet at University of North Carolina School of the Arts where Bowden is a resident artist.
Bowden is a founding member of both Seraph Brass and the Chrysalis Chamber Players, a recipient of a Yale Alumni Grant. Seraph will be featured at the 2019 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Miami. They have also been featured at the International Women’s Brass Conference, and twice at the Lieksa Brass Week in Finland. They released their debut album, “Asteria,” through Summit Records in 2018, which has been awarded a Silver Medal Global Music Award. Bowden has collaborated in chamber music programs at the Marlboro Music Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival, The Banff Centre, and at the Sydney Opera House under the baton of Håkan Hardenberger. She has served on the adjunct faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University and at The Curtis Institute of Music’s Young Artist Summer Program.
An experienced orchestral musician, Bowden is currently principal trumpet of the Artosphere Festival Orchestra and a member of the Iris Orchestra. She has served as principal trumpet of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival Orchestra, New Zealand’s Auckland Philharmonia, the Daejeon Philharmonic in Korea, and with Seraphic Fire’s Firebird Chamber Orchestra. At the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, she held the principal chair in Pierre Boulez’s performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, which was released on CD through Accentus Music. The Luzerner Zeitung described her playing in one word: “outstanding.” Bowden is also a member of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed many dates on Adele’s North American tour.
Bowden began full-time college studies at the age of 14, receiving an associate degree from Joliet Junior College. Subsequently, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree from The Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with the principal trumpeter of the Philadelphia Orchestra, David Bilger. She was awarded her Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music where she studied on a full scholarship with trumpeter Allan Dean.
Visit www.marybowden.com to learn more.