Bovell grew up in Los Angeles after her parents moved there from Panama.

[2] She discovered her love of conducting as a sophomore at Chapman University which she graduated from in 2009.

[5] In 2017, the Chicago Tribune wrote that her skill at conducting Slavonic Dances: Opus 46 No.

[6] Bovell became the assistant conductor for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in 2019.

[5] As of 2020[update] Bovell is the only African-American and Hispanic conductor in the United States.