Harald Sowa teaches at Mozarteum University Salzburg, where he prepares students of Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy for their teaching placements. Since 2010, he has also directed the Seekirchen branch of the Musikum Salzburg music school. Alongside his teaching, he is active in teacher education, curriculum development and the creation of innovative teaching resources for brass players.
Sowa received his first trumpet lessons at the music school in Pottschach before continuing his studies at the Josef Matthias Hauer Music School. He went on to study with Adolf Holler at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and with Robert Politzer at the Vienna Jazz Conservatory. During his studies, he won the trumpet position at the Theater an der Wien, where he performed for one year. From 1983 to 2007, he was a member of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, and in 1985 he joined the Mozarteum University. He later completed further studies in pedagogy at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
From 1985 to 2010, Sowa taught trumpet at the Musikum Salzburg, where he headed the Brass Department from 1998. He is a regular lecturer in teacher education, a juror at competitions including prima la musica and Gradus ad Parnassum, and serves as an expert adviser to prima la musica and the Salzburg Brass Band Association. Together with Gerhard Freiinger and Franz Wagnermeyer, he developed the holistic beginner's method Der Trompetentrainer, and, in collaboration with Liming Zhang-Sowa, he composes teaching materials for the classroom. He also develops digital learning apps to support music education for learners of all ages.