Tracy Rowell

Tracy Rowell is Associate Professor of Bass at Oberlin Conservatory. 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.

Ms. Rowell performs and teaches at programs such as the Sarasota Music Festival, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Bass Workshop, Bassworks Maryland, Kansas City Bass Workshop, and Bass Club UK. Ms. Rowell regularly presents classes at institutions such as The Colburn School, USC, Northwestern University, Peabody Conservatory, and Rice University. 

While 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) and League of Women Bassists (LOW-B).

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, after having received study and travel grants from The Cleveland Institute of Music and Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.