After studies at Northwestern and DePaul Universities and two years in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Pete Nowlen joined the Sacramento Symphony horn section in 1987, the UC Davis faculty in 1988, and the Sacramento State faculty in 1990. A member of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera orchestras, the Music in the Mountains Orchestra, and the Arizona Musicfest, Nowlen is an active orchestral and chamber musician performing frequently with the San Francisco Opera, Ballet, and Symphony orchestras; Symphony Silicon Valley; and other Bay Area ensembles. For several years, Nowlen played regularly as principal horn of the International Orchestra of Italy, performing and recording in Italy's finest theaters. In 1992 he was third-prize winner of the International Competition for Solo Horn of the Castle of Duino, Italy, and in 1994 he was a semifinalist in the prestigious American Horn Competition. He has made solo appearances in both American and Italian orchestras. Orchestral conducting credits include the Sacramento Symphony, UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, CSUS Symphony Orchestra, and Music in the Mountains Orchestra. Opera, ballet, and theater conducting credits include La Bohème, Hansel und Gretel, Billy the Kid, L'Histoire du Soldat, Facade, Little Shop of Horrors, Falsettos, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Company, and Man of La Mancha. Currently, Nowlen is artistic director of the concerts at All Hallows Parish and director of concert bands at UC Davis.