By ALEXA BERRY
Contributing Writer
A passion for music and a love of learning makes this professor stand out from the rest. It takes real talent to connect with students on a level that not only educates them but motivates them to be the best they can be. Dr. Sean McClowry has been inspiring students at The College of Saint Rose for the past seven years. His appreciation of music and devotion to his students has made him an extraordinary addition to the music industry major.
McClowry’s favorite part of teaching is “working directly with students who are very seriously trying to forge their careers or develop their professional lives.”
When the jazz musician first visited Saint Rose, he was intrigued by the music industry program. The fusion of songwriting and record production drew him in, and he knew this was exactly where he belonged. Before accepting the position, McClowry had already formed a close bond with Sister Mary Ann Nelson, a music industry professor at the college.
The two became fast friends during a phone call they had before his first visit to the school. When Nelson first met the bassist in person, she was impressed by his skill set and potential to bring something new to the music program.
“He was young, talented, related well with the students, and had a commitment to commercial popular music and that he would be able to bring the department to the next level,” said Nelson.
In Fall of 2013, McClowry started Rose Record Label Group, a student-run record label at Saint Rose. During the Spring of 2013, he taught a class titled “Commercial Music Ensemble.” As a class, they worked together to form a boy band. This experience allowed students to focus on marketing and behind-the-scenes work that happens in the music industry. It also inspired Eliana Decker, a student in McClowry’s class, to come up with the concept of a student-run record label. She presented the idea to him, and he loved it. That summer, McClowry transformed his class into this model set up by Decker.
When the fall semester began, the label was divided into two sections. At first, they struggled to find artists but, after the Artist and Repertoire team visited an open mic night, they were able to sign their first artists. The label has grown a lot since then; there are now five sections with more than 60 students divided into different groups. There are still mistakes made, but there is also a lot of learning. McClowry hopes that the label will provide students a jump-start for their careers in music. He hopes to gain as much traction as possible for signed artists and see them attract attention from bigger labels.
McClowry, who is originally from Rockland, Illinois, grew up in New Haven, Connecticut where he attended the Educational Center of the Art High School. There he began playing in bands and freelancing as a jazz artist. After graduating from high school, McClowry went to Peabody Conservatory from 1996 to 2000 where he majored in composition but also began studying the double bass. In 2000, McClowry attended Yale and four years later, earned his master’s in double bass performance.
After graduating from Yale, McClowry moved to New York City and tried to get involved in the jazz music industry. He was disappointed and uninspired by what he found. During his time in the city, McClowry got a chance to perform with musicians he looked up to but rather than give him hope; it made him feel even more unhappy. Instead of enjoying the night, they were all stressed about when their next gig would be.
“The jazz community is very backstabbing and political,” said McClowry, “things that don’t go well with music and young people trying to play music.”
After finding nothing but dead ends in the city, McClowry decided to go back to one thing he knew he loved, school. From 2005 to 2012, he attended Princeton University to earn his doctorate in composition.
While studying at Princeton, McClowry formed a close bond with a couple of fellow bassists at the school. The group of four, who often used the term “Bass Hang” to refer to their time together, kept in touch after graduation and continue to support one another by attending performances and events.
“He has a lot to share with the world. He’s talented, works hard at his craft, and is fortunate to pursue all of his interests in one place. It’s hard to do what you love in the field” but McClowry “loves what he does and it shows” said former classmate Anthony Brooks.
Sitting in his office in the Hearst building is a reel to reel tape machine. McClowry bought two of these machines last year with the Les Paul Grant. The antique equipment inspired the music professor to develop an interest in historic recording technology and restoring vintage musical instruments. He currently has record lathes and five reel to reel tape machines, which he hopes to have working this year.
“It’s a specialty that I’m hoping to become more and more an expert in over time,” said McClowry, “that’s the academic direction I’m going in.”
Alexa Berry is a student at The College of Saint Rose and is a member of Rose Record Label Group.
