Guitarist Candice Mowbray
Guitarist • Educator • Scholar
TEACHING
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 and guest speaker.
Dr. Mowbray is a perpetual learner and an advocate for musician wellbeing. She is currently pursuing a pedagogical certificate from The Till Project, an approach to 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, and studied with Musicians Wellness of North American and Mindfulness Sussex.
Pictured: Guitarists and educators Maya Loncar, Andrea Cannon, Candice Mowbray, Martha Masters, Helen Sanders and Kim Perlak. Loudoun Guitar Festival.
SPRING 2026 CLASS SCHEDULE
Community Classical Guitar Ensemble
Rehearsals for the Winter/Spring 2026 Community Classical Guitar begin January 24th and continue through May. Come make music in a welcoming, 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.
Who Can Join? This an adult continuing education class with a variety of skill levels represented. Players will need a basic proficiency in reading standard music notation. If you have any questions about skills, please contact Dr. Mowbray.
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Class Limit: 12 players
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*Meeting Time: 11:15am to 12:15pm January 24 and then the first and third Saturday mornings through May. An additional session will be held May 30.
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Tuition: $150 for the semester
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Registration: Email cmowbraymusic @ outlook.com to sign up.
*For persons who live outside of the Hagerstown, Maryland area, a special Out-of-Towners Club has been created in which those players join the main ensemble for just the first rehearsal of each month. Tuition is $80 for 5 sessions.
New to the idea of a classical guitar ensemble? Here are some examples:
Kitchener-Waterloo Guitar Orchestra plays "Joy to the World"
Barcelona Guitar Orchestra plays "Canarios" by Gaspar Sanz
Professional Player's Consort
Are you a professional or advanced amateur guitarist who would enjoy getting together to play through ensemble music in a relaxed and collegial environment? Please be in contact to express interest.
Proposed format is meeting monthly or bimonthly for a fixed term with good coffee and snacks. Perhaps a charitable informal performance to end the term?
Online Workshop: Shell Chord Voicings
This online workshop introduces shell chord voicings that can be used for playing jazz standards, especially in four-to-the-bar, swing rhythm. Participants will learn about the music theory and structure of the chords, and work through playing a jazz standard using these voicings. This workshop is suited for players with intermediate general guitar skills and can be especially helpful to intermediate through advanced classical players and teachers with little jazz experience who would like to begin exploring this style.
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Class limit 10 players
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Meeting Time: Saturday May 9, 2026 from 11 to 11:50am EST
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Meeting Location: Online via Zoom. Participants should plan to have their cameras on for the duration of the workshop.
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Tuition: $25
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Registration: Email cmowbraymusic @ outlook (dot) com with "online workshop" in the subject. A Zoom and payment link will be sent.
Private Lessons
Dr. Mowbray offers some one-on-one coaching for classical guitar, music research and applied music theory/composition. Tuition is $80 per one hour lesson. Online and in-person sessions are available and occur mostly in the morning or afternoon, eastern US time. Please contact cmowbraymusic @ outlook (dot) com. Please note that Dr. Mowbray works primarily with adults, college students and fellow music professionals learning classical guitar, Till Approach fundamentals, pedagogy, and performance practice.
New Community Class Coming!
Wait, Wait...When Do I Clap?
In this fun and light-hearted 5-week class for music appreciators (as opposed to players), participants will learn how to read a concert program, how to distinguish Bach from Beethoven, basic music terms and other fundamentals of classical music to deepen understanding and enhance the concert-going experience. If you have ever wondered when to clap or what exactly a concerto is or why Pachelbel had a 'canon', this is a great chance to learn and explore!
Now Forming! Please email cmowbraymusic @ outlook.com to express interest in participating.
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
