Dean Douglas Lowry

News and Updates

April 11, 2008

A Special Message from Dean Lowry

As many of you may already know, we learned of the tragic passing of Gretchen Snedeker, a master’s student in horn of Peter Kurau. Gretchen lost her life in an automobile accident in Oneida, New York on Thursday, April 10. Gretchen was on her way to teach at Colgate University where she was, while concurrently pursuing her master’s work at Eastman, an adjunct professor.

Gretchen was close with many members of the Eastman community and beloved by her fellow students. Her influence as a human being resonated with everyone who knew her.

The Eastman School of Music will hold a memorial service for Gretchen at a later date. All of us in the Eastman family extend our most sincere sympathy and prayers for her parents, Kathy and John.

October 27, 2007

"The Alchemy of the Muse"

Inaugural Address from the Investiture of Dean Douglas Lowry

October 26, 2007

"Composing the Future for Eastman School"

Rochester Business Journal Profile of Dean Douglas Lowry

September 6, 2007

“EASTMAN TURNS UP THE HEAT”

Convocation Address, September 2007, by Dean Douglas Lowry

August 23, 2007

Interview with Dean Douglas Lowry Broadcast on WXXI-TV

The Friday, Aug. 24, episode of WXXI-TV’s weekly news program “Need to Know” features an interview with Dean Douglas Lowry. The program airs at 9 p.m. and will repeat at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, August 26, on WXXI Channel 21 (cable channel 11).

More info: Need to Know on WXXI

August 15, 2007

Dean Lowry Outlines Administrative Appointments at Eastman

Eastman School of Music Dean Douglas Lowry has announced the appointments of Jamal Rossi as Eastman’s Senior Executive Associate Dean and Donna Brink Fox as Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs.

“This re-configuration in the senior administrative structure of Eastman is a logical step as we embark on a major strategic planning exercise, quicken the pace of the Eastman Theatre renovation and expansion project, and engage in an ambitious slate of internal and external activities geared at strengthening Eastman’s leadership position in its various domains,” said Lowry. “The new organizational structure will enable us to better serve faculty, staff, and most importantly, the students.”

Rossi was appointed senior associate dean for academic affairs and professor of woodwinds at Eastman in 2005 after a national search. He served as interim dean of Eastman from April 2006 through July 2007. Before coming to Eastman, Rossi was dean of the School of Music at the University of South Carolina, associate and assistant dean of Ithaca College’s School of Music, and chair of the music and theater department at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D.

As senior executive associate dean, Rossi will oversee day-to-day operations as well as faculty affairs, including recruitment and retention; department chairs; academic and student affairs; the Sibley Music Library; admissions and financial aid; the Office of the Registrar; and the Eastman Community Music School.

Fox, who has been serving as interim senior associate dean for academic affairs, taught at Ohio and Illinois State Universities before joining Eastman’s faculty in 1984. In 1985, she created and has since directed Eastman’s nationally recognized early childhood music program, MusicTIME, offered through the Eastman Community Music School. She became the first Eastman faculty member to hold a named professorship when she was named Eisenhart Professor of Music Education in 1998.

As associate dean of academic and student affairs, Fox will oversee academic affairs, student and residential life, student orientation, and summer session, and will supervise the academic diploma and certificate programs. She will also assist with faculty and student awards programs and the hiring of part-time faculty.

# # #

Conductor, Composer Douglas Lowry Named Dean of Eastman School of Music May 21 — Lowry Assumed the Post on August 1

Douglas Lowry began his tenure as sixth dean of the Eastman School of Music on August 1, 2007. Prior to his arrival at Eastman, he served for 7 years as Dean and Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. While in Cincinnati, Lowry was a periodic host of WVXU’s Around Cincinnati, a radio series focusing on the arts and entertainment in the Greater Cincinnati area. He also served on the boards of the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Opera and the School for Creative and Performing Arts. He continues to serve on the board and co-chair the artistic directorate of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. Previously he served as Associate Dean and Chair of the Conducting Department at the Flora L. Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

As a composer, Lowry has written for a wide variety of media. Recent commissions and premieres include works for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, Cincinnati Playhouse, St. Louis Repertory Theater, the CCM Chamber Players in performance at the University of Michigan, and the Cincinnati Pops. His compositions appear on recordings issued by Summit Records and BIS.

Born in Spokane, Washington in 1951, Lowry holds degrees in composition, conducting and music performance from the University of Arizona and the University of Southern California.

He serves on the boards of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Rochester’s Mercury Opera.