About the Conductor: Dr. Frederick (Rick) Lowe
Dr. Frederick Lowe became the twelfth conductor of the Palatine Concert Band in August 2013. He is a Teaching Professor of Music at Loyola University Chicago where he serves as Director of the Music Program. He also conducts the Wind Ensemble, the Commencement Wind Ensemble, prepares the pit orchestra for the spring musical, and teaches courses in music listening, introductory conducting, and applied conducting.
Dr. Lowe earned his bachelor of music degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, studying clarinet with Deborah Chodacki, and serving as a graduate assistant with the Michigan Marching Band. He then became assistant band director at Lake Zurich (IL) High School, where he directed the concert, symphonic and marching bands and taught music theory and electronic music composition. Upon leaving Lake Zurich, he earned his doctor and master of music degrees in conducting at Northwestern University, studying with primary teacher Dr. Mallory Thompson.
While at Northwestern, Dr. Lowe guest-conducted the Contemporary Music Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He also assisted with the “Wildcat” Marching Band and the men’s basketball pep band.
Dr. Lowe has participated in conducting symposia with conductors including Craig Kirchoff, Jerry Junkin, Allan McMurray, Larry Rachleff, H. Robert Reynolds, John Whitwell, and Rodney Winther.
Dr. Lowe has traveled to Singapore, where he spent three weeks working as a music clinician in five public schools and appeared as a guest conductor with the Singapore Festival Winds. He served as a guest conductor with the McHenry County (IL) Youth Orchestras, and has judged several music festivals in the Chicago area. His music analyses have been published in the GIA Publications series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band , in Volume VI, the revision of Volume I, the volume highlighting solos with wind ensemble accompaniment, and the first volume of music for middle school band.
Dr. Lowe holds memberships in the College Music Society, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma.