By Daniel Ren
With so many amazing faculty members at Fieldston, it’s hard to get to know them well. Besides being teachers, faculty do amazing things outside of school and are highly skilled. This month, the spotlight is on Mr. Johnathan Lowery, the woodwind/band teacher. Mr. Lowery has been at Fieldston for 7 years. He said, “I wanted to join this school because of its progressive reputation and how they aligned with my own core values in an educational environment. That and our amazing, diverse student body!” He’s known for always being nice and for being a passionate teacher.
Mr. Lowery has been surrounded by music his entire life. He had his exposure to music through his family. His father is a great trumpet player, and his uncle is an amazing saxophonist. His upbringing is what inspired him to pursue music as a career. Starting to play the piano at the age of 5, Mr. Lowery began playing the saxophone at 14. His favorite part about the saxophone is the diverse range of genres that can be played on it.
What makes Mr. Lowery a notable member of the faculty is his remarkable accomplishments outside of school. What many students may not know is that he has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, both on and off Broadway. Additionally, he performs with well-known orchestras, such as the Grammy-nominated Terraza Big Band, Assembly of Shadows, and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society. Mr. Lowery leads and composes for his own group called the Jonathan Lowery Sextet. He’s basically done it all playing the saxophone.
Saxophone is not the only instrument Mr. Lowery plays. He’s had great success as a clarinet player as well. He’s collaborated with and played pieces by world-renowned artists such as Robert Rowe, Corte Lippe and Eric Lyon, among others. Besides Broadway Shows, Grammy-nominated orchestras, and having his own group, he’s also performing this year with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Orchestra.
Despite the joy of working with famous orchestras and world-renowned artists playing classics, Mr. Lowery’s favorite type of music to play is that written by contemporary composers and their modern pieces. That is where his love for music really shines. He says, “Musicians don’t pursue a career in music for the money, but rather for the artistic fulfillment.” What Mr. Lowery means is that musicians play for the community that’s brought together by music. They do it for the camaraderie felt between each musician, and that’s what Mr. Lowery truly loves about music.
One thing that Mr. Lowery said his students wouldn’t know about him is that he likes a good hike. Although he is someone whom people see at 8:30 in the morning while half asleep, he is a prime example of faculty members who do extraordinary things. They go unnoticed but should be celebrated.
