Dr. William Stowman is Professor of Trumpet and Co-Chair of the Department of Music at Messiah University where he teaches trumpet, conducts the trumpet ensemble, and directs the jazz ensemble. He is the recipient of the Robert and Marilyn Smith Award for Excellence in Teaching at Messiah, and has also earned the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Citation of Excellence for teaching at the collegiate level.
Receiving his start in a small but excellent music program in western Pennsylvania, his musical journey has been comprised of successful public school teaching, graduate programs in performance in Kentucky, and a doctorate in trumpet performance from The University of North Texas. Twenty-three years in higher education have provided countless opportunities to serve as a guest conductor, clinician, and soloist. Conducting opportunities have ranged from elementary through high school festivals, college bands, and community bands as well. He also serves as the Conductor and Music Director of the Greater Harrisburg Concert Band, a community band made up of local professionals and amateurs in south central Pennsylvania.
As a trumpeter, Bill has three solo CD’s to his credit: A Matter of Seconds (Mark Records), A Timeless Place (Klavier), and Parable (Mark Records). Fanfare Magazine wrote “. . .crystalline clarity of tone, and impeccable legato” to describe his playing. He is a member of Tromba Mundi, a professional trumpet ensemble and founder and musical director of BrassCross, a unique collaborative brass choir that is comprised of students and faculty from Messiah University . He has also performed and recorded with The North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon, The Keystone Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jack Stamp, and The Atlantic Brass Band. Bill is an S.E. Shires Trumpet Artist and plays mouthpieces designed by Pickett Brass.
In 2021, Bill published his book 26 Contemplative Studies which is in circulation across the United States. He also hosts a podcast titled The Open Bell with fellow trumpeters Joey Tartell and Bryan Appleby-Wineberg.
Dr. Stowman has served on the Board of Directors for the International Trumpet Guild and recently was appointed the Associate Director of The National Trumpet Competition. He and his wife Lynn reside in Mechanicsburg where they have raised four children.