CROWDEN PRESENTS • 2026-27
Anne Crowden taught Owen the violin as a teenager and convinced him that string quartet playing might be a musician’s highest calling. That belief carried him from Berkeley to Yale, New York, international stages, and a decade with the St. Lawrence String Quartet.
Owen is the co-artistic director of Noe Music alongside violist Meena Bhasin, teaches and performs as an Artist-in-Residence at Stanford University, and returns to Crowden as the first Artist-in-Residence to shape a Crowden Presents season.
"I owe more to this school than I can really put into words, and coming back as Artist-in-Residence to help inspire the students is a deeply meaningful full-circle moment for me."
OWEN DALBY
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, CROWDEN PRESENTS
As a young violinist, Owen performed a Brahms sonata as Anne Crowden’s student at the Crowden School. He now returns with the same repertoire, bringing an evolved perspective as a performer, curator, and teacher.
Owen discovers the particular trust, empathy, and exhilaration of playing in a quartet.
He brings favorite collaborators to Rose Street and shares that same sense of possibility with a new generation.
“These five programs trace a line from the music that formed me to artists who are expanding what chamber music can be. I chose collaborators who play fearlessly, take creative risks, and make every person in the room part of the experience.”
Violinist Owen Dalby is known for bringing daring, sophisticated artistry to audiences worldwide. The New York Times calls him “dazzling,” and San Francisco Classical Voice calls him “a fearless and inquisitive violinist.”
With his wife, violist Meena Bhasin, he leads Noe Music, the acclaimed San Francisco chamber series where he serves as Co-Artistic and Executive Director. From 2015 until the ensemble’s retirement in 2024, Owen was a member of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, touring North America and Europe and appearing as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony.
Earlier, he co-founded Decoda, Carnegie Hall’s affiliate ensemble, and was an inaugural fellow of Ensemble Connect. Born and raised in Berkeley, Owen earned undergraduate and master’s degrees at Yale University.
Discover the artists, programs, and ideas in the 2026-27 Crowden Presents season.
