THSO Honors David Bowden with Gala Event on June 7
The THSO is honored to celebrate Dr. David Bowden's 28-year legacy with the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra during Bravo Maestro! on June 7, 2025 at the Terre Haute Convention Center for an elegant dinner and cabaret performance with singer and pianist Tony DeSare. Join the THSO for a final evening with Dr. Bowden as we say thank you for his leadership, artistic vision, and community impact prior to his retirement. This special fundraising event is proudly sponsored by Morgan Stanley Argentum Group, Ron & Marsha Danielson, Drs. Tom & Norma Schmitz, and Barb & David Hagerman.
Menu & Event Information
Dinner will begin with a house salad, and patrons will select one entree of either:
Chicken Bruschetta with Tomato and Garlic
Grilled Salmon Fillet with Creamy Tarragon and Lemon Beurre Blanc
Puttanesca alla Zucchini with Vegan Red Sauce, Mushrooms, and Kalamata Olives.
All entrees are served with Au Gratin Potatoes and Roasted Broccolini. Strawberry Shortcake will be served for dessert.
Recommended attire for the event is cocktail or formal. The event schedule includes a cocktail hour with appetizers beginning at 5pm, dinner and short presentation at 6pm, cabaret concert with Tony Desare at 7pm, and a social hour with David and Donna Bowden at 8pm. Free parking is included at the Terre Haute Convention Center parking garage. Reservations close May 30.
About David Bowden
David Bowden has served as Artistic Director & Conductor of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra since 1997. During his years of leadership, the THSO has seen significant growth artistically and continues to provide exciting accessible concerts. David’s charismatic energy and special gift of bringing music to life result in performances that have unusual spirit, dramatic power and vitality.
David Bowden, THSO Artistic Director & Conductor
Born and raised in North Carolina, David has loved music since he was a very young child. He grew up listening to his mother teaching piano lessons in their home. At the age of four, he talked her into teaching him piano. In addition to the piano, he has played clarinet, oboe, percussion, and organ. David enjoys performing a wide variety of repertoire – from opera to symphonic standards to pops and country music. He especially enjoys educational concerts for schools, hoping to inspire children to choose to learn to play an instrument, believing that making music changes lives.
Majoring in piano performance with a minor in organ at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, David has a particular love for orchestral music that features piano and organ. Recordings of his concerts have been broadcast nationwide on American Public Media’s Performance Today and Pipedreams as well as NPR’s With Heart & Voice. His commercial recording of Marcel Dupré’s Complete Music for Organ and Orchestra (Naxos) received rave international reviews. He has also received five ASCAP awards for programming.
While a student at Wheaton, David met his wife, Donna, a registered nurse, during an intramural volleyball game. Graduate school took them to Bloomington, where David received his M.M. in Choral Conducting at Indiana University. After teaching in the college setting, David returned to IU and earned a Doctor of Music in Orchestral Conducting.
After serving for 35 years as the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Philharmonic Chorus, he recently retired from those positions and has been named Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonic. He also served as Artistic Director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra from 1999 to 2016.
He is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and has been listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World for the past two decades. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Conductors Guild, a global service and music advocacy organization for conductors. He also served as Director of the Guild’s New Music Project for almost two decades. David is also a proud recipient of the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award presented by the Governor of Indiana.
Reservations
Reservations are $100/person and can be made at thso.org or by calling 812-242-8476. $50 of each ticket purchased is a tax-deductible gift to the THSO. Corporate sponsored tables are also available for $1,000 for a table of 8. Corporate tables can be reserved by contacting the THSO office at 812-242-8476 or Samantha.Johnson-Helms@thso.org.