PRESS ACCLAIM

“Bowlin was an enchanting soloist, cut from the same cloth as David Oistrakh. His throbbing vibrato and technical command were well suited to the young Bartók’s Straussian Post-Romantic sensibility.”

-The San Diego Union-Tribune

“...an alluring performance, with David Bowlin as the brilliant violin soloist, traversing his complicated part with ferocious intensity."

-The New York Times

“the violinist David Bowlin...spun out the melancholy melody with a rich, alluring tone.”

-The New York Times

"… superb…"

-The New York Times

“Bowlin is a formidable violinist, combining dulcet sweetness of tone with incisive drive.”

-The Chicago Sun-Times

“David Bowlin was the impressive soloist, taming the awkward double-stops with ease and carefully delineating the rapid changes of character.”

-The Chicago Tribune

"David Bowlin was the brilliant soloist, chirruping and keening for nearly all of the piece's 20 minutes."

-The Chicago Tribune

“The alarmingly gifted violinist, David Bowlin...provided sterling advocacy and an array of widely terraced dynamics and colors.”

-Chicago Classical Review

CURRICULUM VITAE

TEACHING POSITIONS:

- Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio: Professor of Violin (2007-present) | Chair of Strings (2019-present) | Division Director of Strings (2016-2019)

- Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Blue Hill, Maine: Faculty Artist (2013-present)

- Bowdoin International Music Festival, Brunswick, Maine: Faculty Artist (2017-2020)

- Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada: Faculty Artist, Ensemble Evolution Workshop (2017, 2018)

- ARIA International Summer Academy, South Hadley, Massachusetts: Faculty (2015, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2024*)

- Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Burlington, Vermont: Faculty Artist (2010-2012)

- The Juilliard School, New York, New York: Teaching Assistant to Ronald Copes (2002-2005)

ENSEMBLES:

- International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE): Founding member (2001-2022) | Emeritus member (2022-present)

- Bowlin-Cho Duo: With pianist Tony Cho (2017-present)

- Oberlin Trio: With cellist Dmitry Kouzov and pianist Haewon Song (2008-2024)

- Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota: Guest Concertmaster (2023) | Guest Principal Second (2019, 2020)

- Juilliard String Quartet: Guest Second Violinist (2019)

- Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Ontario, Canada: Guest Concertmaster (2011)

- Da Capo Chamber Players (2003-2007)

- Rothko String Quartet (2005-2007)

- Andros String Quartet (2003-2005)

SELECTED ENGAGEMENTS:

- Music in the Vineyards, Napa, California: Guest Artist (August 2024)

- Boston Chamber Music Society, Massachusetts: Guest Artist (2016, 2018, 2023, 2024)

- Fermata Chamber Soloists, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Guest Soloist (April 2024)

- Olympic Music Festival, Port Townsend, Washington: Guest Artist (August 2022, 2023)

- ChamberFest Cleveland, Ohio: Guest Artist (June 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)

- International Chamber Music Festival,Thessaloniki , Greece: Guest Artist (November 2022)

- Seoul International Music Competition, Seoul, Korea: Violin Jury (October 2022)

- Aspen Music Festival, Colorado

Guest Soloist, Donald Crockett: Violin Concerto *World Premiere (August 2022)

Guest Soloist, Alban Berg: Kammerkonzert (August 2017)

- La Jolla Symphony, San Diego, California

Guest Soloist, Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 1 (June 2022)

Guest Soloist, Beethoven: Violin Concerto (February 2017)

- Chamber Music Chicago, Illinois: Guest Artist (2019)

- Detroit Chamber Music Society, Michigan: Guest second violinist with the Juilliard String Quartet (2019)

- The Kennedy Center, Washington D. C.: Guest second violinist with the Juilliard String Quartet (2019)

- The Arctic Sinfonietta, Bodø, Norway: Guest Soloist, Alban Berg: Kammerkonzert (March 2019)

- The Gilmore Piano Festival, Kalamazoo, Michigan: Guest Artist, Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time (April 2018)

- SongFest at the Colburn School, Los Angeles, California: Guest Artist (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

- Miller Theater, Columbia University, New York City: Soloist, Marcos Balter: Violin Concerto, with the ICE (November 2017)

- Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium, New York City: With the ICE. Music of Steve Reich. (November 2016)

- Harris Theater, Millenium Park, Chicago: Soloist, Marcos Balter: Violin Concerto, with the ICE (October 2016)

- Seoul Arts Center, Korea: Oberlin Trio Concerts (February 2015 & April 2012)

- Ojai Music Festival, California: Guest Artist (June 2015)

- Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, Greenville, North Carolina: Guest Artist (2014, 2015)

- Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California: With the ICE(April 2014)

- Mostly Mozart Festival, Lincoln Center, New York City:

With the ICE (2011-2016)

Soloist, Marcos Balter: Violin Concerto *world premiere (2016)

- Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, New York: Guest Artist (2010-2011)

- Mannes Beethoven Institute, New York City: Faculty Artist (2009, 2013)

- Madeline Island Chamber Music Camp, La Pointe, Wisconsin: Faculty Artist (2009)

- Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival, Easton, Maryland: Guest Artist (2008, 2010)

- Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, New York City: Guest Soloist, Alexandra Hermentin-Karastoyanova: Mahagoni *world premiere (2007)

- Marlboro Music Festival, Vermont

Musicians from Marlboro Tours (2008, 2010, 2012)

Participating Artist (2005-2008)

RESIDENCIES & MASTERCLASSES:

- University of Southern California, Los Angeles: Recital | Masterclass I Contemporary Forum (March 2014; April 2024)

- The Colburn School, Los Angeles, California: CSPA Honors Chamber Seminar Masterclass (April 2024)

- California State University, Long Beach: Masterclass (April 2024)

- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York: Marcos Balter: Violin Concerto with Ensemble X (March 2023)

- Seoul National University, Korea: Masterclass (April 2012 & October 2023)

- Korea National University of Arts, Seoul, Korea: Masterclass (October 2019 & 2023)

- Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea: Recital | Masterclass (October 2023)

- Florida State University, Tallahassee: Recital | Masterclass (September, 2023)

- Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne: Recital | Masterclass (May, 2023)

- DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois: Recital | Masterclass (February, 2023)

- The Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen, Denmark: Masterclass (January, 2023)

- Malmö Music Academy, Lund University, Sweden: Masterclass (January, 2023)

- Ingesund School of Music, Karlstads University, Arkiva, Sweden: Recital | Masterclass (January, 2023)

- Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, Norway: Masterclass (January, 2023)

- Barrett Due Musikkinstitutt, Oslo, Norway: Masterclass (January, 2023)

- Institut Oberschützen, Austria: Masterclass (November, 2022)

- Kunstuniversität Graz, Austria: Masterclass (November, 2022)

- Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Thessaloniki, Greece: Chamber Music Concert | Masterclass (November, 2022)

- Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, Virginia: Recital | Masterclass (February, 2022)

- Montclair State University, New Jersey: Recital | Masterclass (January, 2022)

- Youngstown State University, Ohio: Recital | Masterclass (November, 2021)

- Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois: Recital | Masterclass (September, 2021)

- Oklahoma State University, Stillwater: Recital | Masterclass (September 2021 & 2017)

- Menntaskóli í tónlist, Reykjavik, Iceland: Recital | Masterclass (September, 2021)

- Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Blue Hill, Maine: Lecture Recital on William Grant Still (2021) | Chamber Music Masterclass (2013, 2021)

- New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts: Masterclass via zoom for Ayano Ninomiya's Studio (April, 2021)

- McGill University, Montreal, Canada: Masterclass via zoom for Jinjoo Cho's Studio (April, 2021)

- Credo Chamber Music Festival, Ohio: Recital | Masterclass (July, 2020)

- Bowling Green State University, Ohio: Recital | Masterclass (November, 2019)

- Longy School of Music, Boston, Massachusetts: Recital | Masterclass (November, 2019)

- New York University, New York City: Masterclass (January, 2019)

- University of Washington, Seattle: Recital | Masterclass (January, 2019)

- San Francisco Conservatory of Music, California: Masterclass (December, 2018)

- University of Connecticut, Storrs: Recital | Masterclass (October, 2018)

- The Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Maryland: Recital | Masterclass (December, 2017)

- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Recital | Masterclass (April, 2016)

- Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York: Masterclass (January, 2016)

- Stony Brook University, New York: Recital | Masterclass (March, 2007 & February, 2014)

- Central Conservatory, Beijing, China: Masterclass (August, 2012)

- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: Masterclass (January, 2012)

- University of Texas, Austin: Masterclass (December, 2010)

- Conservatorio de las Rosas, Morelia, Mexico: Chamber Music Concert | Masterclass (June, 2007)

- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York: Recital | Masterclass (November, 2006)

- North Carolina School of the Arts: Masterclass (2005)

AWARDS:

- Samuel Sanders Award (2017): From the Classical Recording Foundation, for a recording of music for violin and piano by Peter Lieberson, with Thomas Sauer, piano.

- The 2016-2017 Excellence in Teaching Award: From Oberlin College and Conservatory

- Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year (2014): As a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble

- NPR’s Top 5 Best American Contemporary Classical Albums (2010): As a member of the Da Capo Chamber Players (2010)

- Washington International Competition (2003): First Prize in Violin

SELECTED AUDIO RECORDINGS:

- Naxos Recordings: Albert Roussel, Violin Sonatas and String Trio. (Will be released in 2024*)

- Naxos Recordings: Franz Joseph Haydn Keyboard Trios. The Oberlin Trio. (2022)

- Oberlin Music: William Grant Still, works for violin and piano. (2021* release pending)

- New Focus Recordings: Bird As Prophet. Solo and chamber music by Georg Walker, Edgar Guzmán, Du Yun, Mario Davidovsky, Martin Bresnick, and Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin (2019)

- Tundra Records: Aesopica. Music by Marcos Balter (2016)

- Bridge Records: Solo and duo repertoire by Roger Sessions (2015)

- Oberlin Music: The Oberlin Trio, music by Dvorák, Shostakovich, and Joan Tower (2015)

- Oberlin Music: Concerti and works for unaccompanied violin by Huang Ruo and Luciano Berio (2014)

- ORF (Radio Österreich): Music by Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin. (2013)

- Bridge Records: Ursula Mamlok, “Suite” and “Designs,” for violin and piano. With Jacob Greenberg, piano. (2010)

- Bridge Records: Ursula Mamlok, “From My Garden” and “Wildflowers” for solo violin. (2010)

- Bridge Records: Music by Chinary Ung. With the Da Capo Chamber Players.

- Bridge Records: George Crumb, “Eleven Echoes of Autumn.” With the International Contemporary Ensemble. (2008)

- Naxos Recordings: Huang Ruo: Chamber Concerti (2007)

EDUCATION:

- Stony Brook University, New York (2004-2007) : Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance | Principal teachers: Pamela Frank, Ani Kavafian, Philip Setzer

- The Juilliard School, New York (2000-2002): Master of Music in Violin Performance | Principal teacher: Ronald Copes

- Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Ohio (1996-2000): Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance | Principal teachers: Roland and Almita Vamos

David Bowlin

Violinist David Bowlin has led a wide-ranging career as a soloist and chamber musician performing an expansive repertoire. First prize winner of the Washington International Competition, he has performed across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.  He has performed widely as a soloist, with premieres of violin concertos written for him by Marcos Balter at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, by Alexandra Hermentin at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital, and most recently by Donald Crockett at the Aspen Music Festival.  A prolific recording artist, Bowlin has released recordings on the Naxos, Bridge, New Focus, Nonesuch, Arsis, Mode, Tundra, and Austrian National Radio labels, including concerto recordings of works by Luciano Berio and Huang Ruo. 

As a chamber musician, Bowlin has made many tours with Musicians from Marlboro, and performs regularly with the Oberlin Trio and the Bowlin-Cho Duo with pianist Tony Cho. Bowlin is an emeritus founding member of the acclaimed International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and a former member of the Naumburg Award-winning Da Capo Chamber Players.

Bowlin has performed as guest concertmaster with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Marlboro Festival Orchestra, and the IRIS Orchestra.  Festivals include the Aspen, Banff, Bridgehampton, Bowdoin, Chesapeake, Gilmore, Ojai, and Olympic festivals; as well as the Boston Chamber Music Society, ChamberFest Cleveland, Chamber Music Chicago, Chamber Music Quad Cities, and the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, where he has been faculty artist since 2013.  

Bowlin is also a dedicated teacher and for seventeen years served as Professor of Violin at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Starting this fall he will join the faculty of the Eastman School of Music as Professor of Violin.  He has given many masterclasses throughout the US and abroad including the Korea National University of the Arts, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Central Conservatory Beijing, the Australian National Academy of Music, the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Norwegian Academy, Malmö Academy of Music in Sweden, and the Kunstuniversität Graz.