James Lowe (Conductor)
Encyclopedia
James Lowe is a British
conductor
and violist
.
As well as holding various assistant conducting
posts and holding the post of Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
between 2004 and 2007 he is the current artistic director of the New Bristol Sinfonia and of the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra
.
. His first venture into the world of music was the study of the viola
. He began viola lessons aged 13 and later went on to study the instrument privately with John White
. He went on to study music at the University of Edinburgh
gaining a First Class Honours degree in music.
Having conducted most of the main ensembles at the University of Edinburgh during his time as a student there Lowe continued his study of conducting in a series of master classes with legendary Finnish
conducting
teacher Jorma Panula
and continued studies with Bernard Haitink
, Neeme Järvi
and Valery Gergiev
.
and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
. In addition he is the music director of the New Bristol Sinfonia and the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra. The West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra is a charity
organisation dedicated to the development of young musicians. Lowe's input as conductor of this organisation has greatly influenced many young musicians and has ensured high standards in the orchestra's performance. Lowe is widely respected amongst the young musicians of the orchestra.
From 2004-07 Lowe was Associate Conductor
of the RSNO
.
His work with the Hallé Harmony Youth Orchestra is featured in the documentary "Orchestra United
" on UK's Channel 4
in July and August 2010.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
.
As well as holding various assistant conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
posts and holding the post of Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
between 2004 and 2007 he is the current artistic director of the New Bristol Sinfonia and of the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra
West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra
West of Scotland Schools' Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra run by the West of Scotland Schools Orchestras Trust youth organisations in the west of Scotland and conducted by James Lowe...
.
Early life
Lowe was born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. His first venture into the world of music was the study of the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
. He began viola lessons aged 13 and later went on to study the instrument privately with John White
John White (composer)
John White is an English composer and musical performer.-Life:White trained and taught at the London Royal College of Music...
. He went on to study music at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
gaining a First Class Honours degree in music.
Having conducted most of the main ensembles at the University of Edinburgh during his time as a student there Lowe continued his study of conducting in a series of master classes with legendary Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
teacher Jorma Panula
Jorma Panula
Jorma Panula is a Finnish conductor, composer, and professor of conducting.Panula is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy, where he studied the organ, church music and conducting...
and continued studies with Bernard Haitink
Bernard Haitink
Bernard Johan Herman Haitink, CH, KBE is a Dutch conductor and violinist.- Early life :Haitink was born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam...
, Neeme Järvi
Neeme Järvi
Neeme Järvi is an Estonian-born conductor.-Early life:Järvi studied music first in Tallinn, and later in Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolai Rabinovich, among others...
and Valery Gergiev
Valery Gergiev
Valery Abisalovich Gergiev is a Russian conductor and opera company director. He is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg.- Early life :Gergiev,...
.
Notable achievements
Lowe has guest conducted many international orchestras, including the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Osaka Philharmonic, the Hallé Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber OrchestraScottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...
and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana.Annually, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs 200 concerts for over 350,000 people. It is the largest performing arts organization in Indiana. The ISO is currently one of only 18 American...
. In addition he is the music director of the New Bristol Sinfonia and the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra. The West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra is a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
organisation dedicated to the development of young musicians. Lowe's input as conductor of this organisation has greatly influenced many young musicians and has ensured high standards in the orchestra's performance. Lowe is widely respected amongst the young musicians of the orchestra.
From 2004-07 Lowe was Associate Conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the RSNO
RSNO
RSNO may refer to:*Royal Scottish National Orchestra*a generic s-nitrosothiol...
.
His work with the Hallé Harmony Youth Orchestra is featured in the documentary "Orchestra United
Orchestra United
Orchestra United was a four-part British television series that followed a youth orchestra from its creation to a final, full-scale concert. The series was broadcast on Channel 4 during summer 2010....
" on UK's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in July and August 2010.