Tracy Rowell

Tracy Rowell is on the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Formerly the Assistant Principal Bass of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, a major Canadian ensemble, she remains an active performer on modern and historic bass. Currently the principal bassist of Citymusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, she also performs with Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s Baroque Orchestra. 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 Conventions in 2019, 2021,and 2023. She led the fundraising effort in 2019 to create the George Wellington and George Vance Scholarship Fund for young bassists. Tracy is a founding member of the Project for All Gender Equality (PAGE).

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

Tracy received her BMus from Rice University, as a student of Paul Ellison. She received her MMus from Boston University, where she studied with Edwin Barker. In 2022, she received the Performance Diploma and Teaching Certificate from the Institut International Rabbath, having received grants from Oberlin College and Conservatory to study in Paris with Francois Rabbath.