Kenneth Lowenberg

KENNETH LOWENBERG (b. 1939) was born and raised in the Chicago area. He attended Northwestern University, beginning as a math major, but switching to music midway through, and graduating with a B. Mus. Ed. (with organ as primary instrument). He later earned a M. Mus., with a major in Composition, from the Univ. of Southern California. After teaching high school in Gary, Indiana and in the Quad Cities, Illinois, he accepted a full scholarship to attend the College of Church Musicians at Washington Cathedral, where he lived, studied, and worked on the cathedral close for a year, earning the FCCM (Fellow, College of Church Musicians). From there, he accepted the position of Minister of Music (Organist/Choirmaster) at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, where he headed a music program which included four graded singing choirs, four handbell choirs, a Gospel Choir, Men's Chorus, All Church Orchestra, Praise Team, Guitar Group, and a concert series --Chevy Chase Concerts. The concert series includes the annual 5-hour-long Washington Bach Marathon (making use of the fine 3-manual glass-encased Rieger organ). Mr. Lowenberg's Chevy Chase Handbell Ringers have enjoyed playing in the White House, the Kennedy Center, on local TV and National Public Radio, and his Chancel Choir has sung at Washington Cathedral. Ken's choral, organ, and handbell compositions (some of which have been commissioned) are published by Selah, Hinshaw, Hope, Art Masters Studios, Inc., H.W. Gray/Belwin/Warner/Alfred, GIA, MorningStar, and AGEHR. Ken has been active in the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, having served as a Regional Resource Representative, on the National Board, as both director of and clinician at the Massanetta Springs Church Music Conference, and as Director of the 1996 Montreat Worship and Music Conference (with 2500 attendees and a faculty of 50). He's also been active in the American Guild of Organists, having served at the chapter, regional, and national levels and having earned the AAGO and FAGO. He has given organ recitals and led church music workshops in many venues in the Eastern U. S., including the 1999 Region III AGO Convention, in which he both performed with a brass quartet on a concert and was commissioned to compose an anthem, which received its premiere performance. Ken's hobbies include travel, photography, cooking, swimming, gardening, and using the Kurzweil keyboard and "Finale" music printing program to produce publication-quality music manuscripts.