I'm Ben Lowman, a versatile musician specialising in Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute, as well as an enthusiastic educator and skilled instrument repairer based in the North of England.
I honed my education and performance craft at Leeds College of Music, where I graduated with honours (BA Hons) in 2011, and my journey in music has taken me through various musical settings, ranging from original projects to theatrical productions.
My profound passion for music revolves around three key areas: performance, education, and instrument repair.
Performance has been at the heart of my musical journey. I've dedicated substantial time and effort to developing my skills within various musical ensembles. Recently, I had the privilege of contributing to the band 'Perpetual Motion Machine' (PMM), culminating in the release of our debut album 'Ignition' after a successful UK tour. While I appreciate contemporary jazz, I also hold a deep affection for jazz traditions, particularly Gypsy Jazz. Composing and arranging music for the projects and bands I'm involved with is another facet of my expression, with my most recent composition, 'Fog Circle,' featured on the Perpetual Motion Machine album, inspired by my experiences trekking in Nepal.
My love for teaching and education is equal to my love for performance. Following my graduation from LCoM, I collaborated with various educational organisations, including Jazz Yorkshire (now Jazz North), where I worked on two educational initiatives in primary schools in North Yorkshire. These projects aimed to introduce improvised music to students in rural areas and broaden their horizons. These experiences ignited my passion for sharing my musical knowledge. Subsequently, I became closely involved with another music charity, North Yorkshire Music Action Zone (NYMAZ), with a similar mission of exposing young audiences to diverse musical genres. In addition to one-on-one instruction, I've actively participated in a range of ensemble learning projects, conducting youth and adult workshops in Leeds, York, and Sheffield.
Lastly, I derive great satisfaction from the art of instrument repair, particularly focusing on woodwind instruments. Witnessing the joy of a student when their instrument is working perfectly is fantastic and is another source of deep fulfilment for me.
So, how did my journey in music begin?
The story is a blend of my father's influence, my Devon upbringing, the year 1999, and a handful of cherished records. If you're curious to delve deeper, please read on.
My father, an avid collector of records and CDs, introduced me to a wide array of musical genres while I was growing up in Devon. His ever-expanding collection exposed me to diverse artists such as Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd (much to my mother's chagrin), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Muddy Waters, Michael Brecker, David Bowie, ELO, and DJ John, among others. Yet, it was a couple of albums that left an indelible mark on me: 'Spirit of Django' and 'Years Apart' by Martin Taylor, as well as 'As We Speak' by David Sanborn. These albums, among others, laid the foundations of my deep love for music and ultimately led me down the path of pursuing it as a career.
I began playing the Saxophone around the age of 10, performing and practicing in various ensembles throughout my school years. This included the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO), as well as participation in after-school wind orchestras and saxophone choirs. As my proficiency grew, I started playing with college big bands, wind orchestras, and various other wind ensembles. I even had the opportunity to sit in with semi-professional big bands and regularly performed with professional function bands, all while honing my craft by busking throughout the southwest of England. These experiences were pivotal in showing me that a career in music was not only possible but also deeply fulfilling.
Most of my early musical training took place in Devon. After completing my studies and a B-tec National Diploma in music at Exeter College, I auditioned for Leeds College of Music, where I enrolled from 2008 to 2011. This period was a significant learning curve as I had the privilege of studying under some of the finest musicians and educators in the UK. Their guidance and mentorship were instrumental in my growth as a musician. I owe a debt of gratitude to Joel Purnell, Jim Corry, Jamie Taylor, Mark Donlon, and Kathy Dyson, who nurtured my development. My education under their tutelage paved the way for my career as a musician. I proudly graduated from LCoM with first-class honours in 2011 and have since collaborated with a diverse array of musicians and bands on both regional and national stages, including Al Wood, Graham Hearne, Sam Dunn, Kate Peters, Garry Jackson, and Kevin Holbrough.
Lastly, I derive immense satisfaction from the art of instrument repair, with a particular focus on woodwind instruments. Witnessing the joy on a student's face after a simple repair, enabling them to pursue their musical aspirations without hindrance, provides me with great satisfaction. My journey in instrument repair began under the expert guidance of Lynne Williams, based in Garstang. Her mentorship marked the inception of my endeavour in this field. Subsequently, I've continued to hone my skills through one-on-one sessions with other experts, including the likes of Dave Walker
So, what keeps me busy these days?
My current endeavours are divided between education, performance, and instrument repair. I am actively engaged in educational pursuits, with regular teaching roles at the Grammar School at Leeds and through private instruction. My musical performances continue to thrive, as I'm a part of two touring theatre productions: 'Northern Live' and 'The Last Days of Disco.' Lastly, I offer repair and servicing services for woodwind instruments, ensuring that fellow musicians can maintain their instruments in perfect working order, allowing them to pursue their musical aspirations to the fullest.
Thank you for taking the time to explore my musical journey, and I look forward to sharing more of it with you in the future.
I honed my education and performance craft at Leeds College of Music, where I graduated with honours (BA Hons) in 2011, and my journey in music has taken me through various musical settings, ranging from original projects to theatrical productions.
My profound passion for music revolves around three key areas: performance, education, and instrument repair.
Performance has been at the heart of my musical journey. I've dedicated substantial time and effort to developing my skills within various musical ensembles. Recently, I had the privilege of contributing to the band 'Perpetual Motion Machine' (PMM), culminating in the release of our debut album 'Ignition' after a successful UK tour. While I appreciate contemporary jazz, I also hold a deep affection for jazz traditions, particularly Gypsy Jazz. Composing and arranging music for the projects and bands I'm involved with is another facet of my expression, with my most recent composition, 'Fog Circle,' featured on the Perpetual Motion Machine album, inspired by my experiences trekking in Nepal.
My love for teaching and education is equal to my love for performance. Following my graduation from LCoM, I collaborated with various educational organisations, including Jazz Yorkshire (now Jazz North), where I worked on two educational initiatives in primary schools in North Yorkshire. These projects aimed to introduce improvised music to students in rural areas and broaden their horizons. These experiences ignited my passion for sharing my musical knowledge. Subsequently, I became closely involved with another music charity, North Yorkshire Music Action Zone (NYMAZ), with a similar mission of exposing young audiences to diverse musical genres. In addition to one-on-one instruction, I've actively participated in a range of ensemble learning projects, conducting youth and adult workshops in Leeds, York, and Sheffield.
Lastly, I derive great satisfaction from the art of instrument repair, particularly focusing on woodwind instruments. Witnessing the joy of a student when their instrument is working perfectly is fantastic and is another source of deep fulfilment for me.
So, how did my journey in music begin?
The story is a blend of my father's influence, my Devon upbringing, the year 1999, and a handful of cherished records. If you're curious to delve deeper, please read on.
My father, an avid collector of records and CDs, introduced me to a wide array of musical genres while I was growing up in Devon. His ever-expanding collection exposed me to diverse artists such as Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd (much to my mother's chagrin), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Muddy Waters, Michael Brecker, David Bowie, ELO, and DJ John, among others. Yet, it was a couple of albums that left an indelible mark on me: 'Spirit of Django' and 'Years Apart' by Martin Taylor, as well as 'As We Speak' by David Sanborn. These albums, among others, laid the foundations of my deep love for music and ultimately led me down the path of pursuing it as a career.
I began playing the Saxophone around the age of 10, performing and practicing in various ensembles throughout my school years. This included the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO), as well as participation in after-school wind orchestras and saxophone choirs. As my proficiency grew, I started playing with college big bands, wind orchestras, and various other wind ensembles. I even had the opportunity to sit in with semi-professional big bands and regularly performed with professional function bands, all while honing my craft by busking throughout the southwest of England. These experiences were pivotal in showing me that a career in music was not only possible but also deeply fulfilling.
Most of my early musical training took place in Devon. After completing my studies and a B-tec National Diploma in music at Exeter College, I auditioned for Leeds College of Music, where I enrolled from 2008 to 2011. This period was a significant learning curve as I had the privilege of studying under some of the finest musicians and educators in the UK. Their guidance and mentorship were instrumental in my growth as a musician. I owe a debt of gratitude to Joel Purnell, Jim Corry, Jamie Taylor, Mark Donlon, and Kathy Dyson, who nurtured my development. My education under their tutelage paved the way for my career as a musician. I proudly graduated from LCoM with first-class honours in 2011 and have since collaborated with a diverse array of musicians and bands on both regional and national stages, including Al Wood, Graham Hearne, Sam Dunn, Kate Peters, Garry Jackson, and Kevin Holbrough.
Lastly, I derive immense satisfaction from the art of instrument repair, with a particular focus on woodwind instruments. Witnessing the joy on a student's face after a simple repair, enabling them to pursue their musical aspirations without hindrance, provides me with great satisfaction. My journey in instrument repair began under the expert guidance of Lynne Williams, based in Garstang. Her mentorship marked the inception of my endeavour in this field. Subsequently, I've continued to hone my skills through one-on-one sessions with other experts, including the likes of Dave Walker
So, what keeps me busy these days?
My current endeavours are divided between education, performance, and instrument repair. I am actively engaged in educational pursuits, with regular teaching roles at the Grammar School at Leeds and through private instruction. My musical performances continue to thrive, as I'm a part of two touring theatre productions: 'Northern Live' and 'The Last Days of Disco.' Lastly, I offer repair and servicing services for woodwind instruments, ensuring that fellow musicians can maintain their instruments in perfect working order, allowing them to pursue their musical aspirations to the fullest.
Thank you for taking the time to explore my musical journey, and I look forward to sharing more of it with you in the future.