Douglas Arnold Lowry

Lowry, Douglas Arnold

Rochester: Douglas Arnold Lowry, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean Emeritus of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, died Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at the age of 62. A composer, conductor, and academic leader, he was keenly attuned to the shifting music world and its challenges for music schools and students.

Douglas Lowry became the sixth head of the Eastman School in 2007. He was named the first Joan and Martin Messinger Dean in 2011 and was reappointed in May 2013. Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in September, 2011, he resigned for health reasons on Sept. 23, 2013. Following his resignation, the University of Rochester Board of Trustees named him the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean Emeritus.

As a composer Douglas Lowry has written for a wide variety of media. Commissions and premieres include works for the Rochester Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops, the Louisville Orchestra, the Chattanooga Symphony, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Flora Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, music for Cincinnati Playhouse, St. Louis Repertory Theater and Music at Angel Fire where he was composer in residence. He has recordings on the BIS and Summit labels. One of his most recent commissions, "The Polite Abductress" was the highlight of an April event in honor of the Memorial Art Gallery's 100th anniversary.

Before his tenure at the Eastman School in 2007, Doug Lowry was Dean and the Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. 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.

Born in Spokane, Washington, in 1951, Lowry received a bachelor of music degree in theory and composition from the University of Arizona in 1974, and masters degrees from the University of Southern California in trombone performance in 1976 and in orchestral conducting in 1978. In 2013 the University of Rochester awarded him an honorary doctor of music degree.

Throughout his career, Douglas Lowry served on the boards of numerous community and music organizations, including the National Association of Schools of Music, the American Classical Music Hall of Fame, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, and Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Douglas Lowry is survived by his beloved wife, Marcia (Rhoads), daughters Jennifer, Melanie, and son Timothy; his sister, Susanne (Ray) Carter; brothers, John Lowry (Janne Goldbeck) and William (Meredith) Lowry. And his extended family, in-laws H.S. and Mary Lou Howell; brothers-in-law George (Gwen) Rhoads, Jeff Rhoads (Jennifer Jordan), and sister-in-law Julie Howell and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Mildred Lowry.

A celebration of music and words of the life and work of Douglas Lowry will be held on Sunday, November 3 at 3:00 PM in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Memorial gifts may be directed to the "Douglas Lowry Fund for Musical Excellence" at: University of Rochester, Office of Gift and Donor Records, 300 East River Rd., PO Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14627; to support Dean Lowry's vision and the mission of the Eastman School of Music. The family wishes to thank the amazing doctors, nurses and staff of the Wilmot Cancer Center for whom we will always be grateful. To share a testimonial or tribute visit, www.esm.rochester.edu.