Role

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Composer  

Birth

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1974 in Thorold, Ontario, Canada

 

Ken Cowan is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a virtuoso organist and pianist. Born on July 27, 1974, in Thorold, Ontario, Canada, Cowan grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at the age of four. He showed exceptional talent and was soon performing in public, winning his first competition at the age of ten. Cowan continued to hone his skills and pursued his passion for music by attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with renowned organist John Weaver. He also studied with pianist Leon Fleisher and organist Thomas Murray at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he earned his Master of Music degree. Cowan's talent and dedication to his craft soon began to pay off, and he began to receive recognition for his performances. In 1998, he won first prize in the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance, and in 2000, he won the Grand Prix de Chartres, one of the most prestigious organ competitions in the world. Cowan's career as a performer has taken him all over the world, and he has performed in some of the most renowned concert halls and cathedrals in Europe and North America. He has also been a featured soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. One of Cowan's most notable performances was his debut at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in 2004. He performed a program of works by Bach, Franck, and Duruflé, and his performance was hailed by critics as "stunning" and "virtuosic." Cowan has also performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and at the Royal Festival Hall in London. In addition to his performances as a soloist, Cowan is also a sought-after collaborator and chamber musician. He has performed with many of the world's leading musicians, including violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and soprano Renée Fleming. Cowan is also a dedicated teacher and has served on the faculties of several prestigious music schools, including the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and the Westminster Choir College. He is currently the head of the organ department at the Shepherd School of Music. Cowan has recorded several albums, including a critically acclaimed recording of the complete organ works of Maurice Duruflé. He has also recorded works by Bach, Franck, and Widor, among others. Cowan's talent and dedication to his craft have earned him numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his competition wins, he has been awarded the prestigious Prix d'Excellence from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and the Medal of Honor from the American Guild of Organists. Cowan is also a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists and a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists. He has been a featured performer at several international organ festivals, including the International Organ Festival in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and the Organ Festival in St. Albans, England. In addition to his performances and teaching, Cowan is also a dedicated advocate for the organ and its music. He has worked to promote the organ as a solo instrument and has commissioned several new works for the instrument. Cowan's talent, dedication, and passion for music have made him one of the most respected and admired classical music artists of his generation.

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