Brian Bowen (1940–2022)
Brian Bowen
Initial recognition for Brian Bowen's music came within The Salvation Army, here many of his compositions and arrangements have been published and performed. His first significant success was with My Comfort and Strength (1963), a meditation on Psalm 23. In the wider brass band world his Euphonium Music, written in 1978 and published in 1984, is established firmly in the virtuoso euphonium repertory. He conducted the Salvation Army band in his home town of Staines (Middlesex) for 25 years, played flugelhorn in the International Staff Band (1964–1976), and in 1986 moved to the USA to become music director of the New York Staff Band. For several years he was on the panel of judges for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's annual Young Artists Auditions. His living has been earned mainly as a music editor, first with The Salvation Army in London before moving into classical and contemporary publications, working for Schott/Eulenburg and Josef Weinberger Ltd. He traveled to many countries as a conductor, performer and teacher.