William Rowson, a native of Saskatoon, received his bachelor's degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, where his teachers were Ned Rorem and Richard Danielpour. Mr. Rowson earned a master's degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Western Ontario. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in composition at the University of Toronto with Gary Kulesha.

Mr. Rowson's compositions have been performed at the Brott Music Festival, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, and the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival. They have also been performed in the USA and Europe. His String Sextet was premiered at the Verbier Festival in 2001.

Mr. Rowson has been featured conducting his own music and other works with ensembles across Canada. Recent conducting performances include Night Music I by George Crumb with the Talisker Chamber Players, and his own Mozartiana, commissioned and performed by the McGill Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Rowson has been the recipient of grants from the Canada Council and has participated in the National Arts Centre's Young Composers Program. He has been awarded two residencies at the Banff Centre.