A staff editorial in Friday’s (12/9) Republic (Columbus, Indiana) states, “For someone who doesn’t live here, David Bowden has had a pretty impressive influence on the quality of life in Columbus. Along the way, he’s also developed into one of the city’s most effective cheerleaders. Bowden, who lives in Bloomington, is celebrating his 25th year as musical director of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. In some respects, it is a dual anniversary. He has been the sole conductor in the orchestra’s history. … While retaining an emphasis on classical music, the philharmonic has been able to reach beyond its traditional audience by embracing sounds with more universal appeal. … Typical of this outreach has been the highly successful Salute concert that has drawn thousands of veterans and their families to the courthouse lawn on Memorial Day weekend. … Far from striking a pose as some sort of distant and commanding figure at the head of a musical ensemble, [Bowden] endeavors to include the audience in the performance—from pre-concert chats, often with featured artists, to explanatory asides during performances.”
Posted December 15, 2011
