The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra
Director of Music
Captain Michael McGowan
Captain Michael McGowan moved from New Zealand to the UK to join the Royal Air Force in 2006 where, after undertaking Basic Training at RAF Halton, he gained a position with the Central Band of the RAF.
Following promotion to Sergeant in early 2016 his career took a change in direction as he successfully attended the RMSM Music Direction Course Selection Cadre that year. He completed his transfer to the Corps and started as a student bandmaster at Kneller Hall in January 2017. He graduated from the Music Direction Course at the end of 2017.
In May 2018, he was appointed as the Bandmaster of the Band of The Parachute Regiment, now the British Army Band Colchester.
In July 2020 he was assigned to the Household Division as Bandmaster of the Band of the Irish Guards. He was selected for promotion to WO2 at the end of 2020 and was assigned into his new rank as the Bandmaster of the Band of the Welsh Guards in April 2021.
In 2022, he was selected for commission as an officer in the Royal Corps of Army Music. He received his first appointment as Director of Music for the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, beginning there in May 2023.