Founder, Artistic Director & Clarinetist
David Rowden is an internationally acclaimed clarinetist based in Sydney, renowned for his expressive artistry, technical brilliance, and dedication to contemporary classical music. With a career spanning over two decades, he has captivated audiences across the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Critics have praised his performances as demonstrating “superb technique and artistry” (Limelight Magazine, 2018) and being “expressive, accurate, and nuanced” (International Clarinet Association, 2016).
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London (2005), David is the founder and Artistic Director of Omega Ensemble, one of Australia’s leading chamber music organisations. Under his leadership, the Ensemble has commissioned and premiered over 60 new works by esteemed composers such as Nico Muhly, Christopher Cerrone, Caroline Shaw, Gabriel Prokofiev, Ross Edwards AM, Elena Kats-Chernin AM, Lou Bennett AM, William Barton, and Carl Vine AO.
“phrased the clarinet part with great tonal beauty and sensitivity to melodic contour”
David’s performances have graced some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall (Sydney), Melbourne Recital Centre, Royal Albert Hall (London), Juilliard School of Music (New York), and Beijing Central Conservatory (China). His work is frequently broadcast on ABC Classic, bringing his artistry to a national audience.
Honoured as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2016 for his significant contributions to the music profession, David has collaborated with leading artists such as William Barton (didgeridoo/composer), Emma Matthews (soprano), Paul Meyer (conductor/clarinet), Nico Muhly (composer), Dimitri Ashkenazy (clarinet), and Timo-Veikko Valve (cello).
David’s recording career includes the critically acclaimed Mozart – Munro – Palmer, released internationally through Universal Music Australia in collaboration with ABC Classic. His second album, Unexpected News (2019), was a landmark project with Nico Muhly and Omega Ensemble. In 2020, he gave the digital world premiere of Gordon Kerry’s Clarinet Quintet, performed live on stage at the Sydney Opera House and streamed to a global audience.
“superb technique and artistry”
David’s early studies saw him awarded scholarships to attend the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music, and Royal College of Music. He also won the Geoffrey Hawkes Prize for Clarinet Performance (2004) and trained under world-leading clarinetists at institutions such as the Longy School of Music (Boston), Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Siena), Academie de Villecroze (France), and Pacific Music Festival (Japan).
A passionate advocate for new music and artistic innovation, David Rowden continues to shape Australia’s classical music landscape, championing the clarinet as a solo, chamber, and orchestral instrument of extraordinary depth and versatility.
Artist Endorsements
In March 2019 D’Addario Australia announced David Rowden as an endorsed D’Addario Artist. David performs on their Reserve Evolution reeds.
From October 2019 David joined the F. Arthur Uebel family as their first Australian artist performing on “The Zenit” 24K Mopane clarinets.
“I am proud to perform on the new D’Addario Evolution reeds and thrilled to join their family of artists. D’Addario’s incredible consistency and evenness of sound over the entire register of the instrument stands them apart from any other reeds on the market.”
“There has certainly been no room for error in these extraordinary instruments opening the artist up to a world of colour and possibility.”