Steven Cowan
Course Instructor (Guitar; Guitar Ensembles)
Juno-nominated Canadian guitarist Steve Cowan has performed in 14 countries and recorded 11 albums. Described by American Record Guide as “an elegant musician whose strong, crisp sense of rhythm underpins his colourful interpretations,” he has appeared throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and New Zealand. Recent international highlights include concerto performances with Ensemble Del Arte (Germany) and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (New Zealand), as well as two solo albums with HR Recordings (Spain).
A leading voice in contemporary guitar performance, Cowan is best known for CC Duo, his acclaimed partnership with guitarist Adam Cicchillitti. The ensemble has premiered more than twenty new works and earned top prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America International Ensemble Competition. Their debut album Focus (Analekta, 2019) won Classical Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards. The duo has also released Impressions intimes (Analekta, 2021) and Lyrique (Analekta, 2024), both featuring original arrangements of 19th- and 20th-century piano repertoire. CC Duo’s collaboration with the string nonet collectif9 resulted in the Juno-nominated album Re/String, presenting six newly commissioned works for two guitars and strings. Cowan also performs with the Montréal-based ensemble Forestare and is a member of the renowned Canadian Guitar Quartet.
Cowan has won awards at ten national and international competitions, including eight first prizes. An active pedagogue, he has presented masterclasses at institutions including the Yale School of Music, Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the Royal Danish Academy of Music, and the New Zealand School of Music.
Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Cowan holds degrees from Memorial University, the Manhattan School of Music, and McGill University, where he studied with Sylvie Proulx, David Leisner, and Jérôme Ducharme. Since 2019 he has taught at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Active across musical styles, he also performs on electric guitar and regularly plays drums in Montréal’s local music scene.
