Lowe’s School of Music, 2932 Dundas St. W
Founded in 1970 by Bill Lowe, Lowe’s School of Music has been a cornerstone of the Junction’s arts scene for over 55 years. With a long-standing tradition of offering exceptional music lessons, the school continues to thrive under the leadership of Sean Deyell, who took over management in 2024.
Sean’s journey with music began when he was just 11 years old. He quickly fell in love with it, which led him to attend an arts-focused school in Ottawa. He played tuba, guitar, and piano in school ensembles and the city’s youth orchestra there. Although he later pursued a degree in Film Studies, music remained a constant in his life.
Years after graduation, while working in a non-music-related field, a friend and longtime Lowe’s instructor, Clayton Moore, invited Sean to join a band. Clayton offered Sean a part-time teaching position when he took over the school in 2014. Though it started as a side job, Sean found himself continually rearranging his schedule to prioritize his students. It became clear: music education was his true calling.
“The joy of watching people’s perspectives expand through learning, seeing their confidence grow, and witnessing them master a challenging piece—that’s the most fulfilling thing in the world,” Sean says. So, when the opportunity to take over the school came up in 2024, he didn’t hesitate.
Now at the helm of Lowe’s, Sean finds purpose in his teaching and overseeing the development of the entire Lowe’s community. He enjoys creating new programming and events, and especially values the opportunity to support other musicians by offering them teaching roles, paying forward the support he received throughout his own journey.
Lowe’s offers a wide range of one-on-one music lessons for all ages and experience levels. Whether a student is seven or fifty, their team of versatile, friendly instructors works closely with each student to build personalized lesson plans to reach their goals, whether they are striving to ace a Royal Conservatory exam or simply want to learn a favourite song.
The school hosts regular events, including Student Jam Nights and the always-popular Summer Rock Band Camp. This past March Break, Sean launched the first-ever Music Explorers Camp, which focuses on songwriting—a program he’s excited to continue expanding. Of course, the annual highlights remain Lowe’s June and December recitals, where students of all levels take the stage to showcase their growth in front of friends, family, and peers.
Despite spending most of his time immersed in music, Sean still plays in his free time—for fun, for practice, and for the love of it. When he’s not teaching or performing, he enjoys catching stand-up shows, walking his goldendoodle Benny at the park, and grabbing an Americano from Full Stop Coffee on his way to the school.
As he looks to the future, Sean is excited to continue building the Junction’s music community—one student, one performance, and one unforgettable lesson at a time.
Visit the Lowe’s School of Music website to learn more about their programs and how to start your (or your child’s) musical journey.
Written By: James Watson
Written by: James Watson
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