Ethan Cowburn is a Chicago-based percussionist, interdisciplinary artist, and accessibility advocate whose work bridges experimental music, global traditions, and inclusive design. His artistic practice centers on reimagining how sound is experienced and understood.

Cowburn has performed internationally and across the United States, including appearances in Thailand at King Rama VI’s Mrigadayavan Palace and at Phetchaburi Rajabhat University. His ongoing study of Thai music includes immersive training in traditional repertoire and performance practice, cultural exchange initiatives, and government sponsored programs supporting cross-cultural dialogue. He shares this work through workshops and performances that contextualize Thai classical and folk traditions for new audiences.

In the U.S., he has worked with leading contemporary artists and ensembles including Dame Evelyn Glennie, Russel Hartenberger, Wadada Leo Smith, Molly Herron, Panayiotis Kokoras, Viet Cuong, Ensemble Dal Niente, Eighth Blackbird, and Beyond This Point. He currently serves as Operations Manager for Eighth Blackbird. His projects span concert performance, interdisciplinary installations, and community-based initiatives integrating electronics, video, and field recordings. As a new music advocate, he focuses on works by emerging composers and develops experimental performance environments that challenge traditional concert formats.