McDowell Fine Arts Center

In Honor of Mike McDowell
1910–2005

In January, 2002, The McDowell Fine Arts Center was created and lovingly named in honor of Mike McDowell who served Saint Mark as Organist and Choir Master for 43 years, from 1950 to 1993. The creation of the McDowell Fine Arts Center is not only a way to honor one of our cherished musicians, or simply about providing a name for a location where those in the fine arts ministry of the Saint Mark family gather. In keeping with the spirit of Mr. McDowell, the Fine Arts Center is a place where not-for-profit arts organizations are welcomed and housed, providing rehearsal and performance space as is appropriate and is available.

Additionally, the McDowell Center is pleased to be the rehearsal and performance home of three community arts organizations, The Atlanta Concert Ringers , The William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta , and The Festival Singers of Atlanta. The center hosts several other choral and instrumental organizations each year, and annually awards both music and drama scholarships to deserving youth in memory of two of its cherished members.

About Mike McDowell

Early in Mr. McDowell’s life his family moved to Madison, Georgia, where he attended grammar and high school. At a very early age Mike possessed a remarkable musical aptitude. He attended Emory University in Atlanta, graduating in 1931. For most of the following decade, he taught music at the University of Georgia in Athens, except for a period of piano and organ study with distinguished professors in Leipzig, Germany. During his Athens residency, he served as the Choir Director at Emanuel Episcopal Church. In 1942, Mr. McDowell left the University of Georgia to join the Army Air Force.

Upon conclusion of hostilities, he enrolled as a graduate student in music at Harvard University, receiving his Master’s Degree in 1948. Mike returned to Atlanta in 1950 and became chairman of the music Department at Agnes Scott College, a position he held until his retirement in 1975.

He was a founder and the first president of the Georgia Music Teachers Association (1954-1956), a life member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, and active supporter of the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. McDowell served as Director of Music and Organist at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Atlanta from 1950 until 1992. In January 2002, the church honored his service by designating its greatly expanded music and arts facilities as The McDowell Fine Arts Center. Mike was able to attend this celebration.

Mr. McDowell moved the very prestigious Saint Mark Methodist Episcopal Church of the mid 1950s from a long history of music by a professional quartet to its first volunteer service choir, and continued a level of musical excellence to which the church had long become accustomed.

Saint Mark is grateful to God for the gifts and service of Mike McDowell whose presence will forever be with us.