Alumnus Appointed Concertmaster of Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Alumnus Appointed Concertmaster of Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Published on February 27, 2018
The Royal Conservatory congratulates alumnus Benjamin Bowman on being named Co-Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The acclaimed violinist will begin the permanent position in the fall, following a successful one-year contract. He will serve alongside fellow Concertmaster David Chan.
“On behalf of The Royal Conservatory, I congratulate Benjamin for being chosen for this leadership role with one of the world’s great orchestras,” says Peter Simon, President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music. “He is a source of inspiration for RCM students and faculty alike and a shining example of how RCM alumni are increasingly making their mark on the world stage.”
Mr. Bowman studied violin at the RCM as a student of the Young Artists Performance Academy, later renamed The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. He was a student of The Royal Conservatory Certificate Program and subsequently attended The Glenn Gould School, where he studied with the late violinist Lorand Fenyves. A member of the ARC (Artists of The Royal Conservatory) Bowman was nominated for Grammy Award in 2017 for the ensemble's recording of works by Jerzy Fitelberg.
“From the moment I heard Ben play, it was clear to me that even in the world of very gifted players, the emotional intensity of his playing put him on a different level,” recalled James Anagnoson, Dean of The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School. “While it comes as no surprise to me that Ben has won this prestigious post, I am nevertheless very happy to see his talent recognized in this way. I am confident he will be a wonderful leader for this exceptional orchestra.”
Mr. Bowman is currently the concertmaster of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Orchestra, a post he has held since 2014. This past weekend, The New York Times raved that he “played with a riveting and nuanced dramatic texture that deserved as much attention as the performances onstage.”
Before the ABT Orchestra, he was Associate Concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and Concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra.
The Glenn Gould School is supported by funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canada Arts Training Fund, and from the Ontario Arts Council.