Australian trombone player Timothy Dowling received his first trumpet lessons at the age of nine, but switched to trombone as soon as he had grown big enough. After his secondary schooling he studied at The Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne with Roger Davies and Michael Mulcahy.

In 1979 at the age of 19 he began his professional career. He played in four Australian orchestras before emigrating to The Netherlands, becoming solo trombone with the Residentie Orkest in 1988.

As well as his work with the orchestra he is principal study teacher at the Royal Conservatoire, and plays baroque trombone in ensemble In Stil Moderno.