Wes Lowe

Biography

Mr. Wes Lowe is a Grammy nominated music educator with a passion for developing his students into skillful musicians and outstanding leaders. Mr. Lowe joined The King’s Academy as Assistant Director of Instrumental Arts in 2016 and was shortly thereafter promoted to Director of Instrumental Arts in the fall of 2019.

Mr. Lowe is a stand-out educator with a contemporary instrumental fine arts program that is taking on Palm Beach County by storm. Under his leadership, he has doubled the size of the band program through strategic planning and innovative performance opportunities. As an alumnus of The King’s Academy, he has utilized his knowledge and insight about the school community to revitalize the marching band. This group has gained national recognition through high-profile performances at Miami Heat and Miami Marlins events as well as Walt Disney World parades. Mr. Lowe, a Palm Beach native, values the impact in giving back to the community. He regularly features his Jazz Ensemble at retirement communities, charitable events, and downtown marketplaces to share the joy of music with the community. Mr. Lowe is closely aligned with the Palm Beach Symphony, Yamaha Music Corporation, Legends Radio 100.3, and many nationally acclaimed musicians such as jazz icon, Michael Feinstein, and Hollywood’s trumpeter, Wayne Bergeron. These partnerships have provided a premier and unprecedented musical experience for his students.

Mr. Lowe has received national recognition for his outstanding work. He was selected as one of Yamaha’s 40 Under 40 Music Educators for 2022. He also earned a quarterfinalist spot for the Grammy Music Educator Award. Recently, Mr. Lowe was recognized as the 2022 Palm Beach Illustrated’s Educator of the Year, the 2021 Palm Beach Symphony’s Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year, and the 2022 Randolph A. Frank Prize winner for Emerging Performing Arts Educator. His students have been accepted into premier music programs across the country, including Eastman School of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Indiana University, and New York University. Mr. Lowe’s students have been recognized as top musicians in the All-National and All-State Concert Bands as well as Young Artist of the Year recipients from The Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook.

Mr. Lowe’s exceptional leadership spans a broad range of students beginning in 4^th grade and continuing through their senior year of high school. By designing curriculum that is modern and age-appropriate, he keeps his classes relevant and engaging for all. He inspires them to be well-rounded musicians through the introduction of different music genres including classical, jazz, pop, and rock. Mr. Lowe strives to create an innovative program that prepares his students to be successful in today’s society. He is not afraid to take chances to provide unique performing opportunities for his students. Recently, he created and inspired a student-run jazz quintet that has quickly become a highly sought-after ensemble with performances at The Breakers, Harriet Himmel Theater, and Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. His goal is to use music as a vehicle to produce dynamic young leaders who will seek to have a positive impact upon the community.

2023-2024 Young Artist Instrumentalist Award Winner

Hadiya Stewart

Biography

Hadiya Stewart is a junior at The King’s Academy and is one of Florida’s top emerging bass players within the state. She has auditioned and earned a spot in the Florida All-State Orchestra for the past four years. In addition to the All-State Orchestras, Hadiya has participated in local orchestras throughout her musical career. She has played with the Palm Beach Atlantic University Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County, the Florida Intergenerational Orchestra, and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA), which she experienced the summer before going into eighth grade. She played under the instruction of many fine musicians and conductors including famous conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. Hadiya really enjoyed this experience because she was able to meet and play with musicians her age from across the country. From this experience, Hadiya learned that music is a way of uniting many people from across the world.

Hadiya has also loved participating at The King’s Academy in the Symphony Orchestra, The King’s Regiment, the Jazz Ensemble, and the Annie Matot Jazz Quintet. Although each style is very different, Hadiya loves to be able to broaden her horizons when it comes to music. Plus, she enjoys the fun and experiences that comes with being a member in each group. She loves being in the Conservatory Program at TKA because it gives her the ability to grow as a musician and prepare for the music world that lies ahead.

2023-2024 Young Artist Vocalist Award Winner

Madeline Begin

Biography

Madeline Begin is a senior at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. As a vocalist and actor, her passion and love for performing are constantly on display.

Maddie enjoys being a part of the dynamic TKA Jazz Ensemble as their lead vocalist. She has performed with them in run out concerts, downtown community performances, and the annual Night of Jazz Concert where she shared the stage with the great jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.

This summer, she was selected as a top 40 national finalist to attend the Songbook Academy in Carmel, Indiana. During this weeklong intensive, she was trained by jazz and Broadway stars such as Michael Feinstein, Ali Stroker, Russ Kassoff, Nasia Thomas, Devin Ilaw, Adrea Burns, Lia Callaway, Liam Forde, and Eleri Ward.

Maddie is Theater Captain for the nationally recognized TKA Theatre Company. She has performed principal roles as Ruth in Ruth the Musical, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Katie Nanna in Mary Poppins, Little Red in Into the Woods, Amy March in Little Women, and Mayzie LaBird in Seussical the Musical and performed in The Music Man, Matilda Jr, The Light in the Piazza, Cinderella, Jekyll & Hyde, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, AIDA, Titanic, Newsies, and Oliver.

She is a member of an elite acapella group, In Truth. The mission of this group is to bring joy to others in places such as nursing homes, community centers, country clubs and churches. Maddie has also performed for many years with the Smith Family Conservatory of the Arts His People Honors Choir.

Maddie was recognized as the 2023-24 Young Artist Vocalist Award Winner by the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook. She is looking forward to sharing her passion for music and performing with our community.