A versatile and enterprising cellist dedicated to musical outreach, Craftsbury native Frances Rowell received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Juilliard School. She taught cello at Muhlenberg College for twelve years and is currently on the adjunct faculty of New Jersey City State University and William Paterson University. She holds a patent for a portable endpin resonating platform for the cello. In 1992 the city of Allentown, PA bestowed on Ms. Rowell its Arts Ovation Award for outstanding achievement. She has premiered several cello works written for her, including Gwyneth Walker's North Country Concerto with the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra in 1995 and Douglas Ovens's Concerto for Cello with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in 1996. A member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 1995, Ms. Rowell performs each summer with the Craftsbury Chamber Players. She is a past Coordinator of the NJSO's REACH Program (Resources for Education and Community Harmony). She is currently on the roster of Young Audiences of New Jersey in a string quartet program. She also serves Young Audiences as a teaching artist working with young soloists from the radio program From the Top in presentations in public schools.
