Randolph Bowman has been the Principal Flute of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) since 1990. The California native previously resided in Boston, where he regularly performed with such diverse groups as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, the orchestras of the Boston Opera and Ballet, and a number of new music ensembles. During his tenure as principal flute of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Bowman performed at music festivals and in concert halls throughout the United States and Asia under the baton of renowned conductor and film composer John Williams.

Bowman’s solo playing on more than 100 recordings (with the CSO), has garnered praise from critics (“Randolph Bowman’s flute is as eloquent as the best on disc...,” BBC Music Magazine, May 2004 in a review of the CSO’s recording of Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé). He has performed as guest principal flute with the Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Dallas, Bavarian Radio and Frankfurt Radio symphony orchestras. From 1990 until summer 2016, he was also principal flute of the American Symphony Orchestra during its residency at the Bard Music Festival. In October 2013, Bowman performed as concerto soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra in their 2013–14 season-opening concert at Carnegie Hall.

Bowman premiered and recorded many new chamber works while a member of Collage New Music, the contemporary music ensemble of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded the world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, at the composer’s invitation. In addition, he is a frequent performer in Cincinnati with all of the local professional chamber music ensembles, regularly playing repertoire ranging from Bach to newly commissioned pieces.

While living in Boston, Bowman taught at the New England Conservatory and the Boston Conservatory. Since living in Cincinnati, he spent more than 20 years on the flute faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.