Guitarist Candice Mowbray
Guitarist • Educator • Scholar
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TEACHING
LESSONS & CLASSES
Private Lessons
Dr. Candice Mowbray offers one-on-one lessons in the following areas:
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Classical guitar (beginning through advanced)
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Classical and general guitar combined
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Music theory
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Mindful music performance practice
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Till Approach fundamentals
Dr. Mowbray works with of various skill levels–from fellow professional musicians to beginning hobbyists who are enjoying classical guitar purely as enrichment. Please note that Dr. Mowbray works primarily with adult learners. If you would like a referral to a youth guitar educator, please feel free to ask.
Lessons can be held online (EST time zone) or in-person at a private studio in Washington County, Maryland. It is possible to take ongoing lessons or just meet once in a while to work on a specific piece or topic. Tuition is $80 per one hour lesson, $60 for 45 minutes, and $40 per half hour.
For more information about lessons, please email cmowbraymusic (at) outlook (dot) com. An informational Zoom call may be scheduled to discuss lessons and help determine if the teacher's style and student's goals align.
Community Classical Guitar Ensemble
***First meeting is September 5th. Registration extended to September 12.
Come make music in a supportive environment where players of varying experience levels can grow together, refine their craft, and enjoy the rich beauty of classical guitar ensemble repertoire. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just rediscovering your passion for classical guitar, you are invited to join.
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Class Limit: 15
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Day & Time:
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1st and 3rd Saturdays from September 5th to December 19, 2026
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11am to Noon
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8 sessions
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Location:
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Downtown Hagerstown, MD
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Adjacent to a parking deck and near a bakery and coffee shop. Address given upon registration.
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What you’ll need:
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A nylon string or steel string acoustic guitar, portable music stand, 3-ring binder for music, pencil
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Extra supplies that are helpful: footstool, tuner, pick
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Tuition:
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$120 (that equates to $15 per session, comparable to fees for yoga classes in the region)
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If tuition is a barrier, please considering reaching out. We'd rather you play than not and there may be assistance.
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Registration:
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Email cmowbraymusic (at) outlook (dot) com to sign up or ask questions.
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Registration extended to September 12
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New to the idea of a classical guitar ensemble? Here are some examples:
Chamber Ensemble Coaching & Small Group Guitar Lessons
Coaching is available for small chamber ensembles of various instruments (ex. Flute and guitar duet). Past examples include serving as a conductor for a 4-piece wind ensemble working on the premiere of a new piece with complex time signatures or coaching a college oboe and guitar duo.
Additionally, if you are interested in learning guitar in a small group with friends or as an office professional development activity, please inquire.
Play More Music Guitar Workshop
An introductory workshop for absolute beginners created to encourage you to try out classical (and folk-style) guitar
What's so great about classical guitar? How is it different from other kinds of guitar? Can I still learn chords and to play songs? What if I'm not any good at it?
Dr. Mowbray has often said classical guitar is the instrument everybody loves but they just don't know it yet. She has created this class to encourage adult learners to give it a try. This workshop offers opportunities to ask questions from a very experienced and thoughtful teacher. It's a great way to try out a new cozy, analog hobby and spend some time unplugged. And, if you enjoy yourself, you can inquire about future sessions and one-on-one lessons. Sign up with a friend!
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Day & Time: In-person Date TBA
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Location: Hagerstown Holistic Wellness, Downtown Hagerstown, MD with nearby parking deck and restaurants.
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What you'll need: a guitar in working order before the first class,* portable music stand, a pick, a pencil
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Tuition: $30
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Registration: Email cmowbraymusic (at) outlook (dot) com to sign up.
*We won’t be available to help with basic repair or string changing for this workshop so make sure you take your instrument to a local shop or friend to get it tuned and in good playing condition in advance. Steel or nylon string is fine for this workshop but acoustic is preferred due to space.
Guest Teaching and Adjudication
"Thank you so much for being such an integral part of our festival. Your presentation was fantastic and one of my students...said that he wants to play some of the music that you shared with us... mission accomplished! Your passion is contagious!”
–Dr. Kevin Vigil, Loudoun County Public Schools
"You were a wonderful addition to our adjudicator team. Thank you for jumping right in and making meaningful comments for our students."
–Reading Music Foundation
Dr. Mowbray has been a guest artist and adjudicator for numerous events where she has presented workshops on music fundamentals, technique, mindfulness, performance, and music history in addition to giving masterclasses, directing guitar orchestras, and offering thoughtful, positive, and constructive feedback to participants in youth and professional competitions. Organizations with whom she has been a guest include:
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Guitar Foundation of America
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Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition
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Southern Guitar Festival and Competition
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Reading Music Foundation
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Virginia Music Educators Association
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Mid-Atlantic Guitar Ensemble Festival
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Northern Virginia Public Schools
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Washington County Public Schools
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Performing and Visual Arts Northwest (PAVAN)
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TESS Guitar Festival
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Aguado Guitar Competition
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Lonestar Guitar Festival
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Marlin-Engel Solo Competition at the Levine School of Music
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Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy
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Shields Music Scholarship Awards
ABOUT
Candice Mowbray earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Classical Guitar Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory and has taught music for more than 25 years. She served on the faculties of Shenandoah Conservatory, Frederick Community College, Hagerstown Community College, Mount Saint Mary's University and Shepherd University where she taught courses in guitar performance, music history, music theory, and pedagogy, and directed guitar and chamber music ensembles–all while enjoying a fulfilling career as a performer. She now shares her scholarship and expertise as an independent teaching artist, guest speaker and clinician.
Dr. Mowbray is a perpetual learner and an advocate for musician wellbeing and positive learning environments. She earned a pedagogical certificate from The Till Project, an approach to instrumental music performance which combines the laws of physical movement with the laws of the instrument itself in service of the music. She completed fifteen hours of training in trauma-informed practice for teaching artists with the Bartol Foundation, studied with Musicians Wellness of North American, and completed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction training with Mindfulness Sussex. Her teaching is also informed by her experiences in performance, recording, composition and arranging, music history research, and involvement in the international guitar community.
Pictured: Guitarists and educators Maya Loncar, Andrea Cannon, Candice Mowbray, Martha Masters, Helen Sanders and Kim Perlak. Loudoun Guitar Festival.
