Born in England in 1964 Rowan started to play the cello at the age of six. She moved to New Zealand in 1975 and studied with Ellen Doyle in Christchurch. At the age of 18 she won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she won several prizes and commendations for solo and chamber music performance, including the prize for ‘Most Promising Student’ in her first year. Once Rowan graduated she spent several years touring Europe, Asia and New Zealand as part of Prelude, a duo of violin and cello. Rowan returned to New Zealand in 1990, where she played with the Wellington Sinfonia before joining the NZSO and the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra. She is also a member of Stroma, a contemporary music group, and Felix the Quartet, with other NZSO players.