Secretary, NASM (Executive Committee and Board of Directors)
Elected November 2023, term ends November 2026
Tracy Cowden is the Roland K. Blumberg Endowed Professor in Music and Director of the School of Music at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She has previously served as a faculty member at Virginia Tech, Ohio Wesleyan University, Kalamazoo College, and Hope College. As a pianist, she shares her love of ensemble music through frequent performances with artists and colleagues across the United States, and by mentoring student pianists in solo and collaborative performance. She has commissioned, performed, and recorded new 21st century music, and has premiered works in concerts and conferences from Kalamazoo to Bangkok. Her latest recording, Rapture and Regret: Music of Daron Hagen, was released on the MSR Classics label.
Professor Cowden’s recent work includes performing in health care settings and facilitating interdisciplinary research regarding music and health; she is a member of the Brain Health Consortium at UTSA. As part of her work to foster adult music learning and wellness, she founded the outreach program On-Corps: Military City USA’s Beginning Band for Veterans in the Fall of 2022 at UTSA. Also active as a clinician and lecturer, Professor Cowden has presented master classes and workshops on topics related to collaborative music-making and creative programming across the United States. She has been a presenter or performer at conferences including the National Opera Association, Music Teachers National Association, College Music Society, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, International Trumpet Guild, International Tuba Euphonium Conference, ClarinetFest®, and the National Flute Association. Professor Cowden is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through the Music Teachers National Association, and currently serves as the chair of the College Music Society Reimagining Conferences 2025+ Committee.
Professor Cowden serves NASM as a visiting evaluator. She served as Chair of the Nominating Committee in 2022.
Professor Cowden received Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University.
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Posted December 2023