Dr. Ellen Rowe

Biography

Ellen Rowe is a jazz pianist and composer, currently serving as the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan. Previously, she was the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut. Rowe has performed at jazz festivals and clubs throughout the U.S., in addition to touring Europe, South Africa, and Australia. Her CDs include 'Sylvan Way,' 'Wishing Denali Pass,' and 'Courage Music,' with her latest project, 'Momentum – Portraits of Women in Motion,' released to widespread critical acclaim in January 2019. This band was featured at the 2022 Jazz Education Network Conference and Dizzy’s Club (Jazz Lincoln Center) in March 2023. An active clinician, she has conducted workshops and master classes at premier institutions such as the Melbourne Conservatory, Hochschule für Musik Cologne, and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Rowe's compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by jazz ensembles and orchestras worldwide, including the Village Vanguard Orchestra and the BBC Jazz Orchestra. She is a recipient of numerous commissions and has published works through notable music publications. Rowe has also been selected to conduct various All-State jazz ensembles and has served as a clinician at significant music education conferences.

Research Interests