Tracy Rowell

Currently on the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory and at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Tracy Rowell is the former Assistant Principal Bass of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, a major Canadian ensemble. She is an active performer on modern and historical double bass. Currently the principal bassist of Citymusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, she also performs with Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s Baroque Orchestra. She may be heard as a soloist with Apollo’s Fire, on their recording of Telemann’s Grillen Sinfonie. A founding member of the Pantheon Ensemble, Tracy has also performed with groups such as the Cavani, St. Lawrence, Pacifica, Jasper, Jupiter and Parker Quartets.

Serving on the Board of Directors for the International Society of Bassists as Education Chair, Ms. Rowell co-directed the Young Bassists Program at ISB Convention 2019 and will co-direct the 2021 virtual ISB YB. She led the fundraising effort to create the George Wellington and George Vance Scholarship Fund for young bassists to attend ISB Conventions. Tracy is a founding member of the Project for All Gender Equality (PAGE).

Ms. Rowell performs and teaches at summer programs such as Bassworks Maryland, Kansas City Bass Workshop, Milt Hinton Institute, Bass Club (UK), and the Rochester Bass Retreat. She was a faculty member at George Vance’s Summer Bass Workshops. Ms. Rowell regularly presents masterclasses at institutions such as The Colburn School, USC, Northwestern University, and Peabody Conservatory.

In 2016, Tracy received a grant from Oberlin College and Conservatory, to study in France with the acclaimed virtuoso, Francois Rabbath. She received her MMus from Boston University, where she studied with Edwin Barker. She received her BMus from Rice University, as a student of Paul Ellison.