Meet Terry Lowry
Following in the footsteps of the great virtuosos of the 19th Century, Mr. Lowry’s recital programs consist of original piano compositions, standard piano literature from the past and present, and improvisations on themes provided by the audience. In 1994 he was added to the prestigious list of International Steinway Artists.
Highlights of the 2007-2008 season included performances in Berlin (French Cathedral), Leipzig (St. Thomaskirche), Weimar (Franz Liszt Conservatory), Mannheim, New York (St. Paul’s Chapel, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Riverside Church), Washington DC (National Cathedral, Mt. Vernon), Savannah, the University of Alabama, the University of West Georgia and a live performance on Georgia Public Radio. The season also featured premiere performances of Mr. Lowry’s Stations of the Cross (solo piano), Organ Sonata (Organ and Cantor), Service of Choral Evensong (a cappella choir), and Cantata no. 3 (Soli, Chorus and Organ), and the release of a compact disc of original piano compositions entitled Stations of the Cross.
On the podium, Mr. Lowry’s 2007-2008 repertoire included J.S. Bach’s Easter Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Seven Last Words of the Saviour from the Cross and the Surprise Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Fauré’s Requiem, Ravel’s Bolero, Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, John Adams’ Short Ride on A Fast Machine, and eleven premiere performances of new orchestral works commissioned by the Carroll Symphony Orchestra, including Thomas Williams’ Retrovertica the Beautiful.
The 2008-2009 season will include performances throughout the Southeastern United States and will feature the premieres of several new works for solo piano as well as piano works by Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, and Skryabin. New additions to Mr. Lowry’s repertoire will include Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Beethoven’s Mount of Olives, Roy Harris’ Symphony no. 3, Peter Mennin’s Fantasia for String Orchestra, and Philips Glass’ Facades.
Mr. Lowry’s commissions include an oratorio (Jephtha) premiered at the Verona International Choral Festival, three piano concertos for the Carroll Symphony Orchestra, Suite for E-flat Trumpet and Strings for the Etowah Chamber Orchestra, a motet for the vocal ensemble RareSong, Contemplation for the University of Alabama Tuba Quartet and numerous works for soloists and choirs.
Mr. Lowry was born in Albany, Georgia, in 1974. He studied piano and composition with his father, with whom he toured extensively performing duo piano recitals. Mr. Lowry received his Bachelor’s of Music degree in piano performance from Shorter College and his Master of Music degree in music composition from the University of Alabama. His teachers include William Knight and Amanda Penick (piano); Peter DeWitt, Craig First and Marvin Johnson (composition); Fred Goosen (counterpoint); John Ratledge and Simon Carrington (conducting).
Mr. Lowry is the Conductor and Music Director of the Carroll Symphony Orchestra, a post he has held since 2002. Under Mr. Lowry’s leadership, the CSO has received notice for a series of innovative outreach programs including the Carroll Symphony Orchestra Young Composer Competition, Destination * University, Discover Music, and the Carroll Symphony Orchestra Teacher Resource Program. He is also the Music Director at First Baptist Church in Carrollton, Georgia, a post he has held since 2001. He has also served as an adjunct professor of music at Shorter College and the University of West Georgia. Mr. Lowry and his wife Julie have two daughters, Anna and Allison.