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Before Joining the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1992, Louis Lowenstein was a member of the Chicago Symphony, principal cellist with the San Antonio Symphony and associate principal with the Phoenix Symphony. From 1977-79 he played with the Dakota String Quartet and taught at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Lowenstein was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where he began playing piano at the age of seven and cello at age nine. Within a short time he was performing the major solo repertoire for cello, including his concerto debut at age 13 with the Phoenix Symphony.
When he was 15, Mr. Lowenstein was offered the priceless opportunity to study with legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky in his intensive master classes at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Concurrently he received instruction from Piatigorsky's teaching assistants, Nathaniel Rosen and Jeffrey Solow. With the conclusion of these two years of study, his formal training as a cellist was largely complete.
When Mr. Lowenstein first heard the recordings of French jazz violinists Stephane Grappelli and Jean-Luc Ponty he immediately discovered a fascination and love of jazz and improvised music-making. He has shared both stage and bandstand with many well-known jazz artists, bringing a unique and original sound on his custom-made, six-string, electric cello.
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