teRREL STOWERS

FOUNDER/CEO

Terrel Stowers, Founder and CEO of Cobra Performing Arts, Inc., is a proud product of Bergen County, New Jersey. His career began at Bethune-Cookman University, where he was a student in the Music Department. After transitioning from the University, Terrel worked as an Assistant Marching Band Director at Irvington High School in New Jersey in 1999.

Over the years, Terrel has held various leadership roles, including Program Director at the Providence YMCA in Rhode Island and Keynote Speaker at the "Keys to Quality Conference" for school-age child care. He has had the privilege of working with distinguished musicians in both the music education and afterschool sectors. 

Terrel later moved to Yonkers, New York, where he became the Community Band Director for the Yonkers YMCA Youth Corps program and Senior Director of the Nepperhan Community Youth Corps. After working with over 400 youth, Terrel founded Cobra Performing Arts, Inc. in 2008, with the Marching Cobras of New York being the first program launched. The Marching Cobras is a unique marching drumline and dance program that includes youth from Yonkers, Harlem, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Throughout the 17 years of developing the Marching Cobras, Terrel has taken students on international trips to London and France and has collaborated with major organizations, including the NFL, NHL, and NBA. He also worked with pop star Rihanna to feature the drumline in one of her performances. 

In 2015, the band was featured in the critically acclaimed film *Birdman*, starring Michael Keaton and Emma Stone, produced by Fox Films. Terrel played a key role in collaborating with Fox Film Executives on how the band would be featured in the movie, which went on to win an Academy Award. Terrel had the honor of attending the Oscars in Los Angeles in recognition of this achievement.

With over 22 years of experience, Terrel Stowers is a world-renowned director, continually driving the performing arts and providing opportunities for youth to engage in the arts, free of charge. Currently the Marching Cobras is a Full Marching Band Program with 150 Member grades 4th - 12 grade and practices in Yonkers New York.