Andrew Lowen

At the age of 11 Andrew won a scholarship to study at London’s Royal Academy of Music at their Saturday morning school for gifted young musicians, at the same time he attended a grammar school with a choir winning international choral competitions.  With this early background in performing Andrew decided to make music his career.  He went on to study music at Birmingham University where his main interests were in singing, conducting and Baroque performance practice.  He graduated in 1979, winning the Arnold Goldsborough prize for final year students.  Andrew conducted the university chamber choir and went on to direct chamber choirs in London and St Albans.

Andrew is conductor of the Folkestone and Hythe Orchestral Society and the Canterbury Orchestra, and has been musical director of the Sittingbourne Orpheus Choral Society since January 2007.  Andrew has worked with the professional chamber orchestra the Kent Sinfonia on a series of concerts for young children and on a concert for the Sevenoaks Festival.  In addition to his work as a freelance conductor Andrew is busy as a teacher.

Andrew's career highlights include Verdi's Requiem in Canterbury Cathedral and in Cheltenham Town Hall; Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony in Canterbury Cathedral; and Haydn's Creation in Central Hall Westminster.  Repertoire for 2011 included Mendelssohn’s 

For more information visit Andrew's website 

Next Concert

Saturday March 31st at 7.30 pm

St Peter's Methodist Church, Canterbury CT1 2BE

Our next concert features a selection of works by Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss, composers who effectively bracket the Romantic school of art music, with Schubert (1797-1828) as one of its pioneers and Strauss (1864-1949) one of its most notable 20th Century adherents.  The programme begins with Schubert’s Quartettsatz, arranged for orchestra by our Musical Director Andrew Lowen; originally composed in 1820 as the first movement of a twelfth string quartet which was never completed, like several other works during this difficult period of Schubert’s life.   Strauss’ Oboe Concerto was written in 1945 during the final stages of his career and is considered one of the finest works ever composed for the instrument; we are very pleased to welcome Rosie Lowen as soloist. In contrast, the Serenade for 13 Winds is amongst his earliest works and is clearly modelled on Mozart’s Gran Partita, to which it stands as a fitting tribute.  Schubert’s Symphony no.6 is also an early work written when the composer was 20; exuberant, assured and clearly reflecting the musical ethos of the time with echoes of Haydn, Beethoven and Rossini. Tickets are £9.00 for adults and only £3.00 for children of school age and students.  They are available on the door, from the Secretary on 01227 751196, and online through WeGotTickets by clicking on the button below.. 

Interested in playing with the Canterbury Orchestra?

If you would like the opportunity to play interesting music in a variety of styles and including some of the major symphonic repertoire, call Canterbury's Orchestra Manager Nicky Pound on 01304 812755 or email us.