Meet Emily Bowman

We recently connected with Emily Bowman and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I believe becoming and being a professional musician along with owning a business that provides live music for events truly demands resilience. It can be a love/hate journey filled with challenges, uncertainties, and so many moments of self-doubt. For me, resilience comes from a combination of inner drive, strong support systems, a deep love for music, and being able to create an array of emotions through music.

First and above everything else, my passion for music fuels my ability to keep going. There’s something very grounding about knowing that the music I create and provide for clients can move people emotionally, create unforgettable moments, and bring joy and/or comfort. That above all things keeps me going even when times are tough.

Second, my personal support system very much contributes to my resilience. My husband – Ian and our kids, my parents and brother, along with other family, friends, mentors, and fellow musicians help remind me of my strength and accomplishments and offer encouragement during setbacks. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you can make all the difference.

I also draw strength from experience. Every time I face rejection, encounter “slow seasons”, or navigate difficult performances, I grow. These moments reinforce my belief that I can handle whatever comes my way. It’s like building a muscle—the more you practice, the stronger it becomes.

Finally, I find resilience in self-care and mindset. Prioritizing balance, celebrating small wins, and staying adaptable help me navigate the highs and lows of a business owner and musician’s life.

It can be hard not to get overwhelmed but with my passion, drive, and support system, I am able to get back up, realign my goals, and keep moving forward to success!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have trained and performed as a violinist for over 35 years. I am a native St. Louisan and also have a BM & MM in Music Performance. I have over 20 years experience playing and helping plan music for weddings, catholic services, and other events. I love helping clients plan live music for their events – I wholeheartedly believe that the power of live music can transform any event into something extraordinary.

I have played in many of the well-known groups & ensembles in the St. Louis area. But I absolutely LOVE working with clients and customizing music for their events so I decided to branch out a create my own business/ensemble group.

Beau Son Strings was originally created as a private violin studio and ensemble group. After having our third child, I decided to stop teaching for a while and focus on family time and growing the ensemble side of my business.

In January of 2023, I officially made the move to focus solely on my family and business and Beau Son Strings & Ensembles was ‘re-born’ and here to stay! We are currently booking new events every week that go well into 2025!

Fun Fact: The name ‘Beau Son’ means Beautiful Sounds in French and is in honor of her son, Beau.

What makes my business, Beau Son Strings & Ensembles, different than other groups is that we really do customize live music to each client. We can provide any ensemble type from a String Quartet to Piano (or Keyboard)/Violin Duo, add a trumpet or flute player along with a vocalist. Really whatever you would like, we can make happen!

While I and most of my ensemble members are classically trained, we enjoy playing/performing other genres of music including Musicals, Pop, Rock, Country, Indie, and Liturgical music. We have also had the great opportunity to perform with famous musicians/groups including Black Eyed Peas, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christine Brewer, Josh Groban, Michael W. Smith, and Amy Grant.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back as a professional violinist and business owner, I’d say three key qualities and skills were most impactful in my journey: adaptability, strong communication skills, and a commitment to excellence.

1. Adaptability

Whether it’s tailoring music to fit the tone of a wedding, adjusting to last-minute changes during an event, or navigating the ups and downs of running a small business, adaptability has been extremely important. Being flexible and open to change allows you to meet your clients’ needs and build a reputation as someone who can handle challenges with grace.

Advice: Start by embracing opportunities to step outside your comfort zone. Play in diverse settings, work with different styles, and learn to problem-solve under pressure. The more situations you face, the more adaptable you’ll become.

2. Strong Communication Skills – a constant skill I am always working on.

Clear and professional communication is critical when working with clients, other vendors, and fellow musicians. From understanding a couple’s vision for their wedding music to coordinating with event planners, listen actively, and manage expectations builds trust and ensures a smooth process.

Advice: Practice active listening, write clear and concise emails, and approach every interaction with empathy. Joining networking groups or attending workshops on client relations can help sharpen these skills.

3. Commitment to Excellence

Providing exceptional music and client experiences has been the foundation of my business. Whether it’s through providing professionally trained musicians, curating unique set lists, or delivering seamless event services – striving for excellence creates lasting impressions and word-of-mouth referrals.

Advice: Focus on continual growth. Invest in workshops, do research in your field, and network, network, network! As a business owner, never stop learning about how to improve your services or enhance your client experience.

For those early in their journey:

Build a network of mentors and peers to learn from their experiences and perspectives. Be proactive about gaining experience in real-world settings—volunteer to play at events, shadow professionals, or take internships.

Biggest thing – focus on the long game. Success does not happen overnight, but consistent effort, passion, and a willingness to learn will set you on the right path!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle I’ve faced as both a business owner and professional musician has been managing the financial and administrative side of the business. As musicians, we spend years (even decades!) mastering our craft, but formal education often doesn’t prepare us for the entrepreneurial skills required to run a business. When I was in school, there wasn’t much emphasis on critical areas like marketing yourself, managing finances, working with clients, booking and organizing events, or understanding how to build and sustain a brand.

As a result, transitioning into running my own business was a steep learning curve. It wasn’t just about creating beautiful music—it was also about becoming proficient in budgeting, pricing, invoicing, and keeping track of expenses, taxes, and contracts. These aspects are critical to running a sustainable business but were completely outside my skill set when I started.

To overcome this challenge, I’ve made a conscious effort to educate myself and put systems in place to make these processes more manageable:

Learning and Self-Education: I’ve invested time in learning the basics of finance and business management through online courses, books, and tutorials.

Outsourcing Where Possible: I’ve learned to delegate tasks that are outside my expertise – I work with an accountant to manage taxes and bookkeeping and have used a customer relationship management (CRM) software to streamline booking and client communication.

Creating Systems and Processes: I’ve developed templates for contracts, standardized my pricing structures, and created an organized system for scheduling, invoicing, and tracking payments. Having these processes in place reduces stress and ensures a consistent client experience.

Networking with Other Professionals: Connecting (and following on social media) with other small business owners has been invaluable. Sharing experiences, challenges, and solutions has helped me learn from others and avoid common pitfalls.

For those facing similar challenges, my advice would be to embrace the learning process and recognize that being a great musician and being a great business owner require different skill sets. Don’t be afraid to seek help or invest in tools and resources that make the business side more efficient. Then you will have more time and energy to focus on the music itself!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beausonstrings.com
• Instagram: @beausonstrings
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeauSonStrings/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Beausonstrings
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/beausonstrings

Image Credits

McKinley G Photography
Emily Broadbent Photography
Sarah Corbett Photography