Dr. David Bowden
David Bowden has served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) since 1999. During this time, he has provided artistic vision and leadership as the CSO has experienced exceptional growth in artistic excellence and community support.
David enjoys performing a wide variety of repertoire – from opera to symphonic standards to pops and country music. He especially enjoys educational concerts in schools, hoping to inspire children to choose to learn to play an instrument, believing that making music changes lives. David enjoys involving children in close-up experiences with music – his very popular (risky!) idea of allowing children to sit among orchestra members while the musicians are playing has become a one of the most popular CSO concerts – Family Fun! – each season.
Born and raised in North Carolina, David has always loved music. At the age of four, he began piano lessons with his mother. As an elementary student, he was accepted as a piano student at Duke University. In addition to the piano, he has played clarinet, oboe, organ and viola.
Bowden earned a doctorate in orchestral conducting and a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.
At national and international conferences as well as at area service clubs and school events, David is recognized as an advocate for the arts, music education and innovative programming. He has served as Director of the New Music Project of the Conductors Guild for the past decade. He is a member of the Board of that organization and of the WFIU Community Advisory Board. He served as President of the Board of the Bloomington Pops for five years.
In addition to the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, David is also the Music Director the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic (and Chorus) and the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. He has also worked in church music ministry for most of his life.
When he is not working, David’s interests include reading, running, tennis and basketball. David and his wife, Donna, a registered nurse, enjoy traveling and exploring new places together. They have two adult daughters.
