Skip to main content
Skip to main content
Updated 9/24/2022

Debra Cowan

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Following a life-long desire to sing and perform, Debra Cowan left her job as a California middle school math teacher in 1997 and went to live in Edinburgh, Scotland for six months. There she learned the art of unaccompanied singing and upon her return to the USA in 1998 began traveling all over New England performing at any open mike within 100 miles of her new home in Springfield, Massachusetts. Almost 20 years later, she is now a full-time performer who bridges the old and new with a refreshing stage presence. She can be seen in many venues, heard on both terrestrial and internet radio world-wide and will travel anywhere to sing. Her six recordings have been met with high praise world-wide and in June 2015, she was featured in the UK folk music magazine, Living Tradition. She tours extensively in the United Kingdom and in North America and can also be seen on stage with her good friend, singer and musician John Roberts. Debra is a proud member of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000 and endorses Harvey Leach guitars. Between travels, she makes her home near Worcester, Massachusetts with her husband and their two cats, Hazel n’ Haku.

Find Me

Debra Cowan
Job Title: Performing Musician
Phone: 508-662-9746
Address:
17 Muzzy Ave.
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

1998

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

1998

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Music - Folk

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Traditional

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Artist Representation / Artist Management
  • Professional Development / Training
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Artist Market
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 200

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Nonprofits

Geographic Reach:

  • State
  • National
  • International

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • American Federation of Musicians Local 1000
  • Folk Alliance International

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • American Federation of Musicians Local 1000
  • Folk Alliance International

Awards

Awards:

  • $3500 grant from Southern New England Apprenticeship Program
  • $400 Marblehead Cultural Council (Massachusetts Cultural Council)
  • $150 Orleans Cultural Council (Massachusetts Cultural Council)
  • $150 Shrewsbury Cultural Council (Massachusetts Cultural Council)

Special Designations

Special Designations:

  • NEFA Grant Recipient

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - English Language / Literacy
  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science

Fee range:

$500 - $2,000

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - English Language / Literacy
  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science

Fee range:

$500 - $2,000

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Sound reinforcement for audience sizes larger than 100

Fee Range:

$500 - $2,000

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

1

Maximum Number of Performers:

3