Faculty Profile

Since 1991, Todd Gowers has performed, toured, and recorded with the Seattle Symphony as a substitute bassist. As bassist with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, he has also been principal bassist with the Bolshoi Ballet, Luciano Pavarotti, The Moody Blues, Yes, Tacoma Symphony and Opera, Fifth Avenue Theater, and Paramount Theater. As section bassist, he has performed with Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Sinfonietta, and Anchorage Symphony. Since 1992, he has been a recording bassist for film soundtracks, commercials, and recording artists such as Dave Matthews and Evanescence. Todd also plays jazz performing with the Island Jazz Quintet and the Hammon/Esvelt Quintet at many festivals. During 2000–01 he worked with composer Phillip Glass in the new opera “In the Penal Colony.” Featuring music by Glass, the opera is based on a short story by Franz Kafka, which saw performances in Seattle, Chicago, and New York City.

Gowers has been adjunct professor of double bass at Seattle Pacific University since 1998, where every July he holds the Hammond Ashley Memorial Double Bass Workshop, one of the largest bass camps in America. He has been teaching the bass privately since 1986, and has been a bass coach for the Seattle, Cascade, and Tacoma Youth Symphonies. As an orchestra teacher, he has worked for the Edmonds and Northshore School Districts teaching at the elementary and middle school levels. Todd is also a frequent adjudicator at state and regional solo contests.