Testimonials
Lowell Hohstadt as Educator
I am honored to write to you on behalf of Lowell Hohstadt, a very fine violinist, overall incredible musician and a superb composer. I’ve had the privilege to watch Lowell mature into the fine man that he is today. I have fond memories of graduating from Lubbock Dunbar High School, traveling to Amarillo, Texas to audition for his father, Dr. Thomas Hohstadt, who was the Conductor of the Amarillo Symphony at that time. Without a doubt, Lowell inherited many wonderful musical traits, a relentless work ethic and amazing knowledge from both his parents in his pursuit of a musical career. He received a humble beginning in Amarillo and went on to achieve an incredible education from Julliard – with many fabulous opportunities presented to him along the way. I am so proud of who he is and what he has accomplished!
As a retired High School Orchestra Director in Midland, I was often times called upon to help with the Orchestra at the University of the Permian Basin. Several times Lowell’s arrangements and commissioned works were featured. I always found them to be challenging, fun, but most of all, delightful for the audience’s ear. Because he’s made his home in Odessa, he would always be willing to come out and explain passages, suggest practice methods, and give the students the idea he was trying to portray. A few titles I remember thoroughly enjoying include:
What Child is This (for full orchestra)
What Child is This, Do You See What I see? (full orchestra and SATB chorus)
Christmas Fantasy Overture (full orchestra) – so much fun to play!
Angels We Have Heard on High (Hip-hop) (full orchestra, vocal ensemble) complete with Rap)
Joy to the World (Soulful) (full orchestra and vocal ensemble) this piece was amazing!!
He is very creative, energetic, and the students had so much fun as they “stepped up” to the challenges he put in front of them. I am delighted that Lowell is still interested in providing opportunities for young (and old) musicians to experience the joy of music making. I’m so impressed that he is staying the course in music education. I think he just gets better and better and will do a great job at any task he is faced with, always learning and improving on his already incredible skill. As a truly gifted violinist in the Midland-Odessa Symphony, he is a sensitive, expressive , very technique oriented performer who definitely transfers all of that to his compositions. He is remarkable – highly respected for his outstanding training, experiences, and the high level of expertise he demonstrates in all facets of his career. I strongly recommend him to you.
Karen Walker McAfee,
Retired Lee High School Orchestra Director
Midland, Texas
“Very interesting and stimulating lecture!”
Maurizio Giri (Author, Electronic Music and Sound Design)
Compositions by Lowell Hohstadt
“These are strong…pieces, excellently written and show a real creative power…I like you energy and also your musical ideas which are fresh and your harmony is very fine…full of musicality…you have a wonderful ear evident in all the pieces and therefore harmonically they are uniformly fine…I wish you continued success.”
Samuel Adler (Composer, Conductor, Author, Professor, served on the faculty of the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School)
“I have on a number of occasions heard performances of music by Lowell Hohstadt by the esteemed New York City-based string quartet, the Cassat String Quartet, and I must say I find his work quite appealing, indeed. I am pleased to hear that Mr. Hohstadt is one of the younger American composers who is composing in a musical language that, though thoroughly original and modern, is largely based on the natural acoustical precepts of tonality – making his work quite enjoyable and accessible to audiences of all levels of connoisseurship. His imagination is undeniable in his ability to depict through musical images, events and actions, drawing from many different techniques including traditional performance techniques, often writing in a modern, yet familiar folkloric style. His extensive experience as a Jullliard educated violinist makes him very familiar with the use of more extended colorful techniques such as ponticello, Bartok snaps, effective use of tremolo, glissandi, etc. Lowell Hohstadt is an up-and-coming composer to pay attention to.”
Dr. Mark Morton
DMA, MM, BM The Juilliard School
Associate Professor of Double Bass
String Department Chair
Texas Tech University School of Music
“The voice writing was interesting in its rhythmical intricacy, its intelligent use of singable ranges and its unusual juxtaposing of the texts between the vocal parts. At times the quartet was leading the chorale and other times the chorale seemed to be leading the quartet. The instrumental writing for the quartet was also idiomatic and showed the composer’s mastery of string writing.
The overall effect was one of buoyant energy that exuded from the singers and the quartet and left the audience thrilled with the work as witnessed by a spontaneous standing ovation.
We are fortunate to have such a talented composer in our midst!”
Ronald Bennett (Odessa American review of the premier of Changing Seasons, April 20, 2013)
“Throughout the concert the various chamber groups were featured. The first one was the Permian Basin String Quartet that played ‘Noel’ by our own Lowell Hohstadt. This was basically a musical essay based on the familiar ‘The First Noel.’ It was original in sound, utilized the techniques of the instruments and created a piece that I would have to say was one of the highlights of the concert!”
Ronald Bennet, review of the Midland-Odessa Symphony Christmas Concert, Dec. 10, 2014 in the Odessa American newspaper
“Lowell’s talent is unbelievable from writing music to putting the pieces together and playing. He could have gone into the secular world and done whatever he wanted, but he chose to stay in Odessa and ply his career her. He is amazing.”
Carmen and David Young [from an Odessa American by Bob Campbell, June 20, 2019]
“…his encore (Psalm 67), a composition of his own earned much applause by the audience.”
Hans N. Neidhardt
Music Director, Volksbildungskreis
Vienna, Austria
“…his own composition (Trilogy)…a theme which combines a subtle song and dissonance with a folkloric motif of great power, rhythm, and harmony.”
Eloy B. Mora
Cronica musical
Seville, Spain
…Lowell Hohstadt’s quintet…It is a fine work and we’re happy to have it in our library.”
Raymond Mase American Brass Quintet
“What set the occasion apart for me was the world premiere of Lowell Hohstadt’s Violin Concerto #2…received a standing ovation…distinctive excellence of this new composition…variety in style and pace is a strong reason, among others, for the high level of interest which the Hohstadt Concerto No. 2 sustains…states his musical ideas positively…enjoys them in a charming variety of ways.”
Norman Nadel
New York World-Telegram & Sun
Scripps-Howard newspapers
Newspaper Enterprise Association