UMary music director hits teaching milestone

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - University of Mary music director Dennis Gowen has been teaching music for 40 years at the University of Mary in Bismarck.

He came to UMary straight out of college after graduating from Michigan. He fell in love with the campus and community after visiting it.

“So it’s been a lot of fun to help it grow and to, you know, just try to, you know, introduce the students to great music that they’ll enjoy,” said Gowen.

Senior Allison Bryn grew up in Daisy, North Dakota, and is majoring in social work and psychology.

Even though she isn’t getting a degree in music, Gowen found a way to inspire her.

“Professor Gowen did a really good job of keeping me in and pulling me in and keeping me interested,” said Bryn.

Senior Jase Kleser is studying music. He said meeting the music director early on influenced his decision to go to UMary and become a music director himself.

“Just the energy he brings to everything is so, like, very much a role model in that regard. So, yeah, I think that’s, yeah, he’s going to leave a big legacy here. Yeah, he has,” said Kleser.

He said if he had to tie one word to Dennis Gowen, it would be devotion.

“He could have been a professor probably anywhere in this country. And he chose to stay here. He chose to grow the program. He chose to devote his life to music at this Catholic university,” said Kleser.

Gowen’s music journey at UMary has inspired hundreds of musicians that have come and gone in the last 4 decades. As of now, he has no plans to retire.

“It’s always so fun to be able to take an art form like music and to share and to do everything together. It only works through great teamwork. It only works through great individual effort and, you know, incredible teamwork,” said Gowen.

Gowen said if he had to guess, he’s worked with somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 different students in his concert band ensemble over the years.

His next concert, Journey Through The Classics, will be at the end of October at the University of Mary in Founders Hall.