Bryan G. Rowe is a Baltimore native. He began his piano study at age five and composed his first composition at age six. Bryan received a scholarship to study organ at The Peabody Conservatory Preparatory School while in secondary school. He graduated from Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and most recently from The Graduate Theological Foundation with a doctorate in Sacred Music. His experience in that program led him to studies abroad at Salisbury Cathedral in England as well as Oxford University.
Bryan is an accomplished composer. His pieces are scored for piano, organ, orchestra, as well as choirs. His anthem, “Beatitudes,” had its European debut in 2000 in Ely, Salisbury, Canterbury, and St. Paul’s Cathedrals. “Beatitudes” is written for eight-part choir, violin solo, and four dancers.
Bryan has performed nationally and internationally as a pianist, organist, and choral conductor. His international performances include a tour of Europe which included a solo organ recital at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London (featured on his soon to be released CD, Bryan G. Rowe LIVE!) and his national performances have included five recitals at Washington’s National Cathedral, Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, and numerous concerts in Memphis, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Recently, Bryan expanded on his ever-growing musical endeavors by teaming up with Phil Munds, Principal Hornist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, to create the stirring work, Spiorad. Spiorad, (Spirit in Gaelic), takes the listener to the rolling hills and green valleys of the British Isles whilst guiding them toward a sense of peace. Both Bryan and Phil have ancestral links to the Scotland and England.
Bryan is a prolific recording artist. His compilation of live organ performances is due out in May 2008; simply entitled Bryan G. Rowe LIVE!, the CD features monumental works of Bach, Durufle, Franck, and Karg-Elert as well as several of the Rowe’s original compositions. His other albums include Spiorad, Songs of the Soul, ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, and The Call. Summer 2008 brings Rowe and Munds together again for a new album entitled The Tree of Life.
Bryan lives in a restored grist mill dating back to 1765 in Ellicott City, Maryland with his wife, Barbara, and three dogs, Rex, Bo, and Nicole. Their daughter, Bria, is a senior with majors in math, physics, and astronomy at Eastern University.
Bryan George Rowe went to be with God on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Please read Bryan's obituary here.
Visit Bryan's personal website at bryanrowe.net.
Phil Munds, a native of Napa, California, obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1986. He remained in the Bay area playing for the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the Berkeley Symphony and the Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra. In 1989 he joined the United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC. as Associate Principal horn.
In 1997 Philip left the service to serve as Assistant Principal Horn in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In 2003, he became the BSO's principal horn under Yuri Temirkanov's leadership. He currently teaches at Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University. He lives on the water in Baltimore with his wife Amy and children Andrew, Hannah, and Ian.
Contact Phil at pmunds@spioradmusic.com.
For more on the BSO, please visit baltimoresymphony.org.