David Bowden to Perform Final Concert as THSO Artistic Director
On May 3, 2025 at 7:30pm the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra’s Conductor of 28 years, David Bowden, will step onto the podium for the last time as Artistic Director of the THSO during David’s Finale at Tilson Auditorium prior to his retirement from the orchestra at the end of June. The THSO will perform one of David’s favorite works, Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, alongside Tchaikovsky’s famous Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring world-class pianist Sean Chen. Sean Chen most recently performed with the THSO in November 2019 and received rave reviews. The concert will open with Lumbye’s fun and energetic Champagne Galop, complete with cork pop!
About Sean Chen
Sean Chen, piano
Pianist Sean Chen has performed with many prominent orchestras, including the Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Diego, Knoxville, Hartford, Louisiana Philharmonic, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Pasadena, Phoenix, Santa Fe, and New West Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Chamber Orchestras of Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and South Bay and collaborated with such esteemed conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Michael Stern, Gerard Schwarz, and many others. He has also performed under the baton of David Bowden with regional orchestras in Indiana, including the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Carmel Symphony Orchestra. After having won the 2013 American Pianists Awards, placing third at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and being named a 2015 Annenberg Fellow, Sean is the Jack Strandberg/Missouri Endowed Chair Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory.
Sean has been featured in both live and recorded radio performances, NPR’s From the Top, and American Public Media’s Performance Today. Additional media coverage includes a profile featured on the cover of Clavier Companion in May 2015, recognition as “One to Watch” by International Piano Magazine in March 2014, and inclusion in WFMT’s “30 Under 30.” His CD releases include the 2021 all-Ravel digital album on the Steinway & Sons label, featuring Sonatine and Le Tombeau de Couperin; La Valse, another solo recording on the Steinway label, featuring Mr. Chen's own arrangement of La Valse and hailed for “penetrating artistic intellect” (Audiophile Audition); a live recording from the Cliburn Competition released by harmonia mundi, praised for his “ravishing tone and cogently contoured lines” (Gramophone); and many others. Sean received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Juilliard and an Artist Diploma from Yale.
About David Bowden
David Bowden, Artistic Director & Conductor
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.
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. 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.
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. David is a proud recipient of the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award presented by the Governor of Indiana.
Sponsors
This concert is proudly sponsored by William and Nancy Shriner, Dr. Bill Hughes, the Terre Haute Symphony League, and the Terre Haute Woman’s Department Club. This concert is also made possible in part by Arts Illiana, the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Supper at the Symphony
Make it a date night with a concert and Supper at the Symphony! Come to the concert early and enjoy a delectable three-course meal served in the Heritage Ballroom of Tirey Hall, right down the hall from Tilson Auditorium. The cash bar opens at 5:00pm, and dinner is served promptly at 5:30pm. Dinner reservations are $30 per person. Patrons will enjoy a salad to start and choose one entrée of either Chicken Bruschetta, Salmon with Dill Sauce, or Pasta Primavera. Chicken and Salmon entrees are served with Green Beans Almandine and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes. Strawberry Shortcake Parfait with Pound Cake Layers will be served for dessert. Reservations can be made at www.thso.org or by calling the THSO office at (812) 242-8476. Reservations close at 12pm on Tuesday, April 29.
Concert Conversations
Join Artistic Director David Bowden and pianist Sean Chen for an interview during Concert Conversations in the Heritage Ballroom in Tirey Hall on the campus of Indiana State University before the concert at 6:45pm. FREE to all concert ticket holders!
Concert Tickets
Patrons can purchase concert tickets by visiting www.thso.org or calling the Hulman Center at (812) 237-3737. Ticket prices for adults are $20, $50, and $65. Student and youth tickets are $6, $12, and $16. Prices do not include facility and venue fees.
ISU Student Tickets
ISU students receive FREE tickets to THSO concerts! Students can show their student ID at the Tilson Auditorium ticket window starting at 6:30pm before a concert to receive a free ticket. Only 100 tickets are available for ISU students. Students can get their tickets in advance by visiting the Hulman Center box office.
Accessible Entrance & Parking
Patrons can sign up at thso.org or call (812) 242-8476 to reserve a parking space in the Visitor Lot located at 7th and Larry Bird to take advantage of the THSO’s Accessible Parking Service that includes golf cart transportation from the lot to the elevator entrance of Tilson Auditorium.
Patrons can also be dropped off behind Tirey Hall in the alley between Fairbanks and Tilson for direct access to the elevator or enter through the ground level at the front of Tilson Auditorium via the downstairs lobby. Signage will be posted at the venue with directions to the elevator.
Parking
Patrons may park in the Indiana State University Parking garage located at 750 Cherry Street for free between 4 PM and 11 PM on the day of the concert. This parking garage is located across the street from Tilson Auditorium.