Alison Lowell

Alison is a professional oboist based in the greater Washington, D.C. area with extensive experience as a performer and educator.
 

She has performed in festivals and orchestras internationally and specializes in contemporary, orchestral, period performance and chamber music.  

Alison Lowell is a passionate arts advocate. During her tenure as Principal Oboist of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa, she premiered new works at the National Arts Festival, Classic FM Johannesburg, the

Alison was the recipient of the prestigious “Investing in Artists” grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation for an extended-range oboe. She founded the “Loboe Project” as a series of commissions and performances of works written specifically for her; she presented the "Loboe" through concerts at the 2013 (Redlands, California) and 2015 (Tokyo, Japan) International Double Reed Society Conferences. Alison has performed at festivals such as the Lucerne Music Festival (Switzerland), Ensemble Modern Festival Orchestra (Austria), Spoleto Festival USA and the Sarasota Music Festival, among many others. As Director and Oboist of the new music ensemble Out of Context, she organized four national tours, received a grant from the “Meet the Composer Foundation” and presented concerts and master classes at UMKC, SUNY Fredonia, University of Southern Oregon, LA City College, University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Denver.

 

Alison is an active chamber musician and is a member of the Interference New Music Collective and the LeDroit Chamber Players. Her ensemble District5 is a recipient of a 2016 Chamber Music America Classical Commission and specializes in new works and transcriptions. She has recently performed with the National Gallery of Art New Music Ensemble, Washington National Opera, 21st Century Consort, New Orchestra of Washington, Washington Concert Opera, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Cathedral Choral Society, Alexandria Symphony, Monday Evening Concert Series and the Baltimore Composers Forum. As a ​baroque​ oboist, she has worked with ensembles such as the Washington Bach Consort, Magnolia Baroque, Publick Musick and the San Diego Bach Collegium. Alison holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Southern California and her doctorate from the University of Maryland.

Unyazi Electronic Music Festival and was a featured concerto soloist. In 2009,