School of Music Faculty

Lenard C. Bowie 

Professor Emeritus

 Dr. Leonard C. Bowie was a musician, educator, administrator, and longtime member of the University of North Florida’s music faculty. He joined UNF in the fall of 1980 and spent 24 years at the university before retiring in June 2004. During his tenure, Dr. Bowie served as Associate Professor of Music, founding Director of Bands and Instrumental Music, Classical Trumpet Teacher, Music Department Chairman, and Founder-Director of the African American Music Program.

A native of Big Sandy, Texas, Dr. Bowie began studying music as a young student and learned to play the trumpet after traveling to a neighboring town to participate in its school band. He attended Florida A&M University, where he became involved in the university’s band and was named its president. He was also selected as Florida A&M’s premier soloist and performed as a featured trumpet soloist on tours with the university choir. He later earned a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and Master of Musical Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Yale University.

Before coming to UNF, Dr. Bowie served as Associate Director of Bands at Florida A&M University, where he spent 22 years. He also taught at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville and Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, where he served as an instructor of music theory and applied trumpet, respectively.

At UNF, Dr. Bowie was instrumental in the development of the university’s instrumental music program. He recalled that the instrumental program began in January 1981 with a UNF brass quintet, followed by the development of a full community band the following year. He also worked to establish additional instrumental specialties, including woodwinds and percussion, as the program developed.

Dr. Bowie served as Music Department Chairman from 1984 to 1990 and later served a year as interim chair. During his time as chair, he worked with faculty and university administrators to develop departmental structures and policies, including a faculty handbook, promotion and evaluation procedures, and systems for scheduling and summer teaching. He also helped develop student organizations, including a band fraternity and music sorority. Reflecting on his career at UNF, Dr. Bowie identified developing a lasting structure for the department, building student organizations, and creating opportunities for students and faculty among the accomplishments he valued most.

Dr. Bowie also played a role in the development of UNF’s jazz program. During his interview for the UNF Oral History Project, he recalled discussions surrounding the creation of the program and the decision to bring jazz educator and musician Rich Matteson to UNF. Dr. Bowie and Bill Prince worked together to establish and design the curriculum for the new jazz program.

One of Dr. Bowie’s areas of particular pride was the development of African American music studies at UNF. After completing his first period as department chair, he developed the African American musical heritage course, which consistently drew large enrollments. He also previously taught “All That Jazz,” an appreciation course that attracted large numbers of students. In the oral history interview, Dr. Bowie described starting the African American music program as one of the areas of his UNF career of which he was “extremely proud.”

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Bowie remained active as a performer during his years at UNF. He performed with the St. Johns River City Band and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and was involved in the development of instrumental ensembles in the Jacksonville community. He also recalled using performances and collaborations with local schools to build connections between UNF and the Jacksonville community.

Dr. Bowie retired from the University of North Florida in June 2004 after 24 years of service. In his 2006 oral history interview, he reflected on the growth of the university’s music program from the small program he encountered when he arrived in 1980 to a program with expanded instrumental, choral, string, and jazz offerings.

Dr. Leonard C. Bowie passed away on August 13, 2014, in Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 77. The University of North Florida School of Music honors his 24 years of service to the university and his contributions to instrumental music, music education, academic leadership, and African American music studies. His oral history, recorded in 2006 as part of UNF’s Creating a University: UNF Oral History Project, preserves his own reflections on the early development of the university’s music program and his years of service to UNF.