"Far greater emotional impact came from the premiere of Christopher Bowen's Requiem commemorating the 1999 East Timor elections in a work of tension, almost relentless punch, tonal in idiom but rhythmically unpredictable and imaginatively scored. This is a Requiem to make you sit up and take notice."

North Shore Times

"Chorea: "a ring of dances" by Christopher Bowen, an eventful 15- minute piece suggesting some ancient ritual which begins as if Leviathans were learning to dance, changes gear to passages of terpsichorean vitality and some languidly sugary string writing, and alternates all these ideas in a work which is imaginatively orchestrated and captures attention. Naturally, the performance, conducted by the composer, sounded convincing."

Sydney Morning Herald

"The World Premiere of Bowen's "Requiem" was a knock-out! I have to confess I anticipated having to be tolerant of a new "try-hard" effort but was delighted by the strong, chorally-meaty, exciting and moving work he presented. I found the groaning, lamenting lower strings especially emotional and I simply loved the strong primitive rhythms and declaimed triumphant statements of at least two of the segments. The long, slow melodic passages gave ample contrast without any segments bogging down in endless repetition or embellishment."

Sing On

"Rossini must have had a few tunes left over from his latest comic opera when he completed his religious work, the Stabat Mater, and the the performance by the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Choir, effectively and energetically conducted by Christopher Bowen, took delight in making the most of the contrasting sections of devotional profundity and high jinks."

Sydney Morning Herald

"An odd program coupling, but an unfailingly interesting and rewarding one, came with a well attended concert by the Sydney University Graduate Choir of 70 voices and its orchestra under the keen and musically decisive conducting of Christopher Bowen in the university's Great Hall."

North Shore Times

"My own 33rd complete Messiah came from the 84 singers and orchestra of the Sydney University Graduate Choir conducted by Christopher Bowen. It was a deeply probing reading which had the inestimable asset of a fine soloist team in soprano, Leslie Martin, mezzo-sopranos, Catherine Hassard and Nicole Smeulders, tenor Robert Boyd, baritone Tim Collins and treble David Thomson. The audience was large and the continually riveting performance diverted attention from the stuffiness of the Great Hall."

Sydney Morning Herald

"Trilogy a triumph in risk taking."

Fred Blanks

"Last week the Sydney University Graduate Choir of some 85 voices performed a concert version of Catulli Carmina, the Songs of Catullus. The musical content, not without rhythmic and oratorical complexities, was handled remarkably well under the vividly detailed conductorship of Christopher Bowen. The various choral sections had been well rehearsed. Before this Orff offering came the popular Misa Criolla by Argentinean composer Ariel Ramirez. It all added up to an unusually enterprising concert which attracted a large audience."

North Shore Times