About Lowell

Lowell Adams has enjoyed a successful career and a rich musical life as a cellist. Currently, he is the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Florida Orchestra, Principal Cello of Opera Saratoga in New York, and of Opera Tampa, and he is an Artist Associate Instructor of Cello and Chamber Music at the University of Tampa.

As an orchestral musician, he has been Assistant Principal Cello of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Grand Rapids Symphony, and member of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for the 1996-97 season. He attended the Aspen Music Festival and was invited to perform with the Cabrillo Festival of New Music in Santa Cruz, California.

In addition to his orchestral career, he has been involved with a variety of chamber music groups: The Esterhazy Quartet- in-Residence at the University of Missouri, The Dorian Quartet in Grand Rapids MI, The Florida Orchestra Chamber Players, the Arioso Quartet, and the Spectrum Contemporary Ensemble. Currently he is a founding member of the Trio de Minaret, Artists-in Residence at the University of Tampa.

An enthusiast of different musical genres, he has performed with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Moody Blues, Josh Groban, Sting, Seal, and many other pop and jazz musicians. Due to his musical versatility, he is frequently involved with studio recording projects.

Always a dedicated teacher, he has had extensive teaching experience. This includes Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Missouri/Columbia, Instructor of Cello at the University of South Florida, Florida Southern College, Florida College, and Hillsborough Community College.

He is actively involved with the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and is a frequent guest clinician at the University of South Florida and Tampa Bay Public Schools. He has a full private studio and is a founding member of the Florida Cello Club.

Lowell grew up in a musical family of violinists…mother, father, two sisters, and a brother, yet he was given the opportunity to study the cello at the age of 8. Prior to that age he began piano study at the age of 5. His father, Lowell Sr., who was a master of all of the string instruments and had a reputation as a wonderful teacher, was his first cello instructor. Thus began his dedication and passion for the cello, which continues to this day.

Including his father, he had many distinguished teachers including Raya Garbousova, Ronald Leonard, Alan Harris, Shirley Tabachnick and the Vermeer Quartet.

His education includes B.M. and M.M. Degrees in Cello Performance from Northern Illinois University and the Artist’s Diploma from the Hartt School of Music.