Master Sgt. Joshua A. Kowalsky is a cellist with the Air Force Strings, The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Originally from Interlochen, Michigan, his Air Force career began in 2006. Kowalsky currently serves as section chief for graphics production.
Kowalsky is a 1995 graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. In 1999 he graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and in 2001, he earned a Master of Music from the University of Michigan. He went on to earn a Performance Diploma from the Hochschule Für Musik in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2004.
Kowalsky has performed with James Levine, Kurt Masur, Evgeny Kissen and Vadim Repin. As a soloist, he has performed in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, at the Library of Congress, and while on tour in Germany, Poland and Switzerland. His former teachers include Michael Sanderling, Anthony Elliot and Richard Aaron. Air Force career highlights include performances in the September 11th Pentagon Memorial dedication, the inaugural parade of President Barack Obama, and four consecutive years of PBS's "Veterans Day Salute" show. Kowalsky has also performed in Salute to Children of Fallen Heroes, various vice presidential holiday events, and 11 community relations tours. In addition to his Air Force performances, he has performed with such groups as the National Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Verbier Festival Orchestra (2000 to 2005), and premiered the orchestral version of The Holocaust Cantata for solo cello, orchestra and choir.
Highlights of Kowalsky's Air Force career include performances at inaugurations for presidents Obama and Trump, as well as a 2017 community relations tour with the strings.