2006 Organized US multimedia tour for 'Born Into Brothels Ensemble', a colorful global tapestry of the soundtrack from the "Best Documentary" Oscar winner. Click here to see short video of the all-star cast of musicians playing instruments from around the world who infused this acoustic score with depth and soul.

1999-2003 Toured playing keyboards/persussion with the platinum selling band Rusted Root (Welcome To My Party)

1987-96 Leader, composer, pianist of African jazz group Mamma Tongue which has performed in Europe and North America. Engagements include Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Maine Festival, Lincoln Center and Sounds of Brazil in New York City.

1993 Appeared as pianist in original solo and chamber pieces in "An Evening with John McDowell" at at the Alternative Museum in New York City.

1983-93 Performed regularly as free-lance musician in Chicago, San Francisco, London, and Amsterdam with artists including jazz artists Bob Moses and Stan Strickland, and Roger McGuinn of the Byrds.

1989 Performed as solo drummer and percussionist for the Bates College award winning production of Madea, and in the Festival Theater production of The Song of the Lusitanian Bogey.

1983-87 Appeared as /composer/musician with Netherlands dance companies: Ensemble Ensemble, Krisztina de Chatel Dance, Intro- Dans, WerkCentrum Dans, Wilde Rozen, in performances throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and England.  

1988-96 Mamma Tongue: director for the nine piece African jazz group.

1987 ŒThe Greatest Show on Earth' : conductor and musical director for the three hour opera by Murray Schafer, Peter borough, Ontario, Canada.

1983-87 The Amsterdam Commissions: conductor for twelve original music scores for various chamber groups and ensembles, The Netherlands. 1985 "Ra the Sun God' : conductor and musical director for the nine hour opera by Murray Schafer, The Holland Festival, The Netherlands.

1980 Sacred Heart Gospel Choir: conductor, arranger, and pianist, San Francisco State University.

In Spring of 2004, McDowell was asked by prince–guru Mishal Goswami to record temple music of the holy city of Nathdwara India. The recording is expected to reach over a million people throughout India

1991-93 Meet the Composer Grants for new works performed at: The Alternative Museum, the William Smith and Hobart College Arts Festival.

1989 Fellowship Award, Maine Arts Commission.

1987 Grant from the Ministry of Culture, The Netherlands. to create original work, Load Another Round, for Ensemble Ensemble.

1986 Grant from the Ministry of Culture, The Netherlands. to create original work, Requiem for Mammaw, for Ensemble Ensemble.

1985 Chosen to represent the Netherlands composer for the Gulbankian Course for Composers and Choreographers, Surrey, England.

1995 The Call To Angevin, 15 minute full orchestral score based on sections of the Parzival legend.

1993 An Evening with John McDowell, improvisations and scored compositions for solo piano, and sax, piano, percussion trios.

1993 Towards Infant Survival in Bolivia, score for radio docu-drama. Produced by Interlocl Media for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

1988-94 America, the album by Mamma Tongue, original compositions and arrangements for the album and live performances.

1990 Beauty and the Beast, original music for the Crow Theater production of Beauty and the Beast, Toronto.

1989 The Water Talks to Me, score for 30 minute PBS documentary, currently aired on PBS television.

1987 Staunch, 60 minute ensemble work for piano, saxophone, cello, marimba, and African drums for Kristina de Chatel Dance Co., premiered at the Holland Festival and was aired on NOS(national Dutch TV) several times.

1986 Load Another Round, 20 minute ensemble work for Ensemble Ensemble Music and Dance Co., premiered at the Bellevue Theater, Amsterdam.

1986 Requiem for Mammaw, 90 minute dance-opera for tenor, piano, saxophone, cello, and African drums, premiered at the Haarlem toneel schuur, The Netherlands.

1985 Simple Maneuvers, 20 minute vocal and ensemble work for dance, premiered at the Arnhem City Theater, The Netherlands.

1985 Ardust, 60 minute work for two keyboards, saxophone, bassoon, and percussion for Ensemble Ensemble and MDMP at MoMing Chicago Ill.

1985 It's For You, 60 minute quartet for keyboard, saxophone, bassoon, and percussion, for Workcentrum Dans, premiered at Lanterna, Rotterdam.

1985 Another Journey, 28 minute ensemble work for two cellos, piano, marimba, harp, for Intro Dans, premiered at Arnham City Theater, The Netherlands.

1984 Music for Occasions, 90 minute music theater production, premiered at Links Hall, Chicago.

1984 Bange Witte Hond, 15 minute vocal and string piece for Ensemble Ensemble, premiered at Amstelveen City Theater, The Netherlands.

1984 Whict, 75 minute live ensemble and tape work for Wilde Rozen Dance Co., premiered at the Utrecht Dance Festival, The Netherlands.  

Master of Music, Northwestern University, Evanston Ill. May 1982
Concentration: Theory and Composition

Bachelor of Music, DePaul University, Chicago Ill. May 1981
Concentration: Theory , Composition, and Piano