Michael Lowenstern
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Michael Lowenstern (b. Chicago, Illinois, United States, 1968) is an American bass clarinetist and composer specializing in new music.
Lowenstern holds a B.M. and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, an Artist's Certificate from the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam, and an M.M. and D.M.A. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. In 1989, Lowenstern received a Fulbright grant to study in Amsterdam with bass clarinet virtuoso Harry Sparnaay. In addition to Sparnaay, Lowenstern's clarinet and bass clarinet teachers have included Charles Neidich, Richard MacDowell and John Bruce Yeh, and he has also studied composition with Daniel Weymouth.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Lowenstern's playing is characterized by an expressive, almost vocal tone, an agile technique, and a strong command of the instrument's upper register. He has performed with ensembles representing a wide range of musical genres, including The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Steve Reich and Musicians, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The Klezmatics, and John Zorn. In 1991 he won the first prize at the International Gaudeamus Competition in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Lowenstern has created numerous compositions for bass clarinet, both solo and with electronics. His works explore the possibilities of large ensembles of bass clarinets (done by multi-tracking), as well as juxtaposing the instrument with drum and bass-style beats more common to electronic dance music than to contemporary classical music. He has also composed music for film, dance, and the Internet.
Lowenstern has served on the faculties of New York University and the Juilliard School, and also serves as a guest lecturer at the Manhattan School of Music and other universities around the United States. He has been a member of the New Jersey Symphony since 2000. He appears on over thirty CDs, including three solo recordings: Spasm (New World Records, 1996), 1985 (Capstone Records, 2000), and Ten Children, (Earspasm Music, 2003). This last disc garnered Lowenstern a "Parenting Pick" award in Parenting magazine's music listing for 2004.
