Academic biography

Assistant Professor of Music Education in the School of Arts Education and Movement, Institute of Education (DCU), Marie-Louise combines a life of teaching, performing and research. With a diverse range of teaching experiences from early childhood, secondary school to adult education, she is a passionate advocate of the transformative effects of public schooling and arts education.

As a Fulbright scholar (2010-2014), she earned her Doctoral Degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, NYC, where she worked as Assistant to the Program Coordinator, Student Teacher Advisor and Viola/Violin Teacher. Her dissertation titled Post-Primary Music Education in Ireland: Principals¡¯ Perspectives investigated the extent to which music was implemented in second-level (secondary) schools across Ireland. Making regular presentations at international conferences, Marie-Louise's research interests incorporate early childhood and adolescent experiences in music to policy, leadership in the arts and music teacher education/initial teacher education.

Previously, she worked as a post-primary Music and Irish teacher at Belvedere College, Dublin, where she established various initiatives including a wind band and orchestral programme. As a lecturer and supervisor at Maynooth University, Marie-Louise taught and supervised pre-service secondary school music teachers on the Professional Masters in Education programme. As a teaching fellow at St. Patrick¡¯s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, she was the Coordinator of Curriculum Music, teaching and supervising pre-service primary school teachers. Furthermore, she established and directed a successful Music Academy, focusing on group and individual instrumental tuition.

Marie-Louise maintains a busy schedule as a viola player, regularly performing with RT?'s Concert Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra, in addition to diverse performing ensembles. She has shared the stage with artists such as Pavarotti, Jos¨¦ Carreras, ¡°Puff Daddy,¡± Enrique Iglesias, Cliff Richard, The Corrs (MTV awards), Westlife, Eimear Quinn (Eurovision winner) and Josh Groban to name but a few. Furthermore, she is a traditional Irish fiddler and piano accompanist.

Marie-Louise is the Membership Secretary of the Society for Music Education in Ireland and is a Commissioner for the International Society for Music Education (Music in Schools and Teacher Education, MISTEC).

Dr. Bowe welcomes enquiry into doctoral study, firstly in the areas of post-primary music education & policy  and more broadly, in regards to the following wider teaching and research interests: music education, arts education, leadership in the arts and initial teacher education.