Bio

American violist RJ McDowell has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at festivals in Europe, Asia, and North America.

McDowell first developed his passion for chamber music when he was invited as a high school student to play in a string quartet seminar at the University of South Carolina. Throughout his career as a violist McDowell has had the chance to perform in various chamber music settings. While completing his undergraduate degree at Furman University McDowell was in both the Gladden and Hartness scholarship string quartets. After earning a Master’s degree in viola performance from Belmont University, he went on to study at the Tianjin Juilliard School for a second Master’s degree that emphasizes ensemble playing. To showcase his chamber music skills, McDowell has performed in music festivals such as The Vienna Summer Music Festival, The Endless Summer Concert Series, Festival Connect, and the Second Annual Tianjin Chamber Music Festival. At these festivals McDowell had the opportunity to perform with Lee Allen, Wei He, and members of the Shanghai String Quartet.

McDowell has an interest in diversifying his skills as a violist. While attending the Tianjin Juilliard School he was passionate about performing new music, and most recently he joined the Baroque Orchestra at the University of North Texas and the Lafayette Musicians in Dallas, Texas. He has also performed Asian premieres of works by Gerald Cohen and Zhou Tian and has given the American premiere of Baroque composer Antoine Mahaut’s Sinfonia VI.

As an artist, McDowell wants to bring classical music to audiences that do not normally have easy access to classical music. His latest project in the works is bringing students of the University of North Texas to non traditional venues to help share classical music in settings that are approachable for all audiences.