Lewis Fowler

I love the concept of creating something novel and unique and being able to pass that creation along in such a meaningful way. Music plays such an important role in connecting with others and developing empathetic citizens. I think the Colorado Lullaby Project will serve as an extremely unifying and empowering program that can help change lives, both current and future, for the better.

Lewis Fowler is currently a graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he is simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in music education and teaching licensure. He obtained his BFA, with honors, in jazz studies from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2018, concentrating on saxophone performance and composition. 

Fowler’s passion is for education and hopes to teach music as a band director for a high school music program upon his graduation. He recently received a full scholarship to attend the Conn Selmer Institute, an education conference hosted by Conn Selmer geared towards current and aspiring music educators. He also recently received the President’s Innovation Award to attend the NAMM convention in Anaheim, California and was selected to perform at the JEN conference in Reno, Nevada. Lewis has held internships at both the Stanford Jazz Workshop, working with artists such as Kendrick Scott, Ravi Coltrane, George Cables, Camila Meza, Charles Altura, and Ambrose Akinmusire, as well as at The New York Jazz Workshop, working alongside saxophonist-composer, Marc Mommaas. He has also worked closely with educators at Los Gatos High School, Academy of the City Charter School, and the Calhoun School to hone his craft in the classroom. Fowler is also currently engaged with CU Boulder’s Middle School Ensembles program as a section coach and conductor. He actively teaches on his own, giving private instruction, leading an adult big band in the summer, giving improvisation clinics to middle and high schools, and working as a high school marching band technician.

Fowler is primarily a saxophone player but also enjoys playing clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, piano, guitar, and ukulele. During his time at The New School, Lewis studied with luminaries such as Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Ben Wendel, Aaron Parks, Will Vinson, Ingrid Jensen, Myron Walden, Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis, and many more. He has played on one album as a sideman – Michael Sanchez’s What They Don’t See (2018).

Fowler is also an active composer, writing for different ensembles in a variety of styles. He has studied composition under jazz innovators such as Dave Douglas and Jane Ira Bloom during his study, always looking to push boundaries and incorporate new influences. He recently performed a composition at Bruno Walter Auditorium, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Performing Arts Library concert venue, presenting a piece influenced by research into the doctrines of Calvinism. Lewis hopes to continue his pursuits in composition alongside his educational career.