Thomas Rowell
Thomas Rowell
Thomas Rowell is an award-winning conservation filmmaker dedicated to protecting endangered species around the globe. His films have been shown in galleries both national and international.
Dr. Rowell serves as Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music at USA and Directer of its Opera and Musical Theatre programs. In this capacity he teaches studio voice lessons as well as vocal pedagogy as well as opera history and song literature courses.
Early Life and Education
Thomas was raised in a log cabin on a dirt road in North Carolina. After studying theater directing and working as an instructor at West Melbourne Technical School, Thomas went on to teach art at Ballarat School of Mines as senior painting master before serving as senior examiner of art for their education department and creating departmental textbook illustrations.
Zuar ROWELL was born on 2 December 1804 in Plainfield, Sullivan County, New Hampshire to Enoch ROWELL and Betsy HODGES.
In 1834, Thomas’ family made the journey from Compton, Quebec, Canada to Kirtland, Ohio where they would join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – this would mark one of many moves they would undertake before eventually settling in Nauvoo Illinois and Twelve Mile Grove Iowa.
Professional Career
Thomas Rowell is a photographer, filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer. Additionally, he founded Brother Mountain as a visual storytelling company. Rowell studied theatre directing at UNCSA before receiving a Kenan Fellowship at the Kennedy Center. His first film project focused on conserving Alala (Hawaiian Crow). Since then he has documented efforts with leopards, bears, and Asian elephants across Kenya, India, and beyond.
He serves as Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music, Coordinator of Vocal Studies and Directs USA Opera Theatre at University of South Alabama where he teaches studio voice lessons, vocal diction classes, vocal pedagogy classes and opera history lectures. Additionally he enjoys an active performance schedule in recitals, solo performances and regional opera companies.
Achievement and Honors
In 2015, he was honored to receive induction into the Montana Business Hall of Fame. Additionally, he served as past president of Montana Phi Kappa Phi Chapter as well as board positions with several other community organizations.
In 2012, he was honored with the Shannon Schieber Prize. This honor is awarded annually to a rising senior at Mount St. Mary’s University who demonstrates their commitment to upholding social justice according to Catholic Social Teaching principles.
In 2017, he received the Graduate College Hood Award from Asbury University, honoring students for their academic excellence and service to their department, university and community.
Personal Life
Thomas Rowell was an excellent sheriff in Wellsville, Utah who earned a reputation for being both fair-minded and just. His ideal setting was near a stream in the forest or mountains – especially during sunset or sunrise viewings! Thomas loved being outdoors; particularly near streams or rivers. Thomas loved watching beautiful sunrise and sunset displays from nearby viewpoints. Thomas Rowell earned this renown through hard work on behalf of Wellsville citizens as they strived to ensure safety on his watch.
He was a member of both the Twenty Melbourne Painters and Bread and Cheese Club. He held his own exhibition in 1917 which earned him the Castlemaine prize; other exhibitions took place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane as well as paintings being done for theater scenery scenes.
He is survived by his wife Marsha; children Elysia Rowell Ritchey and Bryan Rowell; grandchildren Genna Ostrand, Chylsea Ostrand, Khylar Sizemore and Miychael Sizemore – predeceased only by his parents.
