Brenda DeKeyzer Lowry and Phyllis B. Garza-Druilhet discuss the plans for this summer’s National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution international convention where Lowry’s song ‘America’s Story in Art’ will be presented.

“Let the teaching of Christ and His words keep on living in you. These make your lives rich and full of wisdom. Keep on teaching and helping each other. Sing the Songs of David and the church songs and the songs of heaven with hearts full of thanks to God.” Colossians 3:16, New Life Version.

The creative gifts of Brenda DeKeyzer Lowry are seen in snippets wherever she wanders in the communities along the Bayou Teche — a place she calls home. From crafting yarn-art shawls to participating in church choir, Lowry’s face can be seen wherever creative people and others of faith might gather. And now, the gift of song she shares so easily is taking a longer journey this summer to our nation’s capital. In Washington, her song “America’s Story in Art” will be presented.

“Good news we do not often get to share,” said Kathryn Fournet, past regent for the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution New Iberia Chapter. “Brenda Lowry placed first in the nation in the American Heritage Division for her song. She wrote the lyrics, arrangement and sang one or two originals on a specific theme.”

The song chosen for first place will be presented during the annual national/ international DAR convention at Constitution Hall in D.C. this summer.

“I wrote two songs for the state regents dinner. The original speaker couldn’t make it and the substitute had a one-woman script on Felicité St. Maxent de Galvez, former first lady of Louisiana (wife of the Spanish governor Bernardo de Galvez). They asked if I had a song that would go with it — No, but said I’d write something.”

The music of the Revolutionary War time period, with both words and music, either were sacred music, classical or folk and drinking songs, Lowry said. So she wrote two songs for the state level, then the national competition came into play.

“I wrote a song for the American Heritage competition,” Lowry said. “They have a theme every year and you have to create according to that theme. It’s judged by non-DAR blind judging. You explain what you did and how it relates to the theme. Usually I don’t have to do anything beyond a rough melody line. This I had to do all the notations.”

Leon Henry, vocal director at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, played keyboard to her vocals. Of all the wonderful instruments, including the pipe organ at the church, the only one God made was the human voice, Lowry said. She also sings in the Heavenly Choir and Whip of Chords at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany.

From birth Lowry has loved music. At 8 years old, she started taking piano lessons and theory with Mrs. Clarke who taught students to play what they wanted to play — so they would practice, Lowry said. Her favorite music at that time was a collection of songs from the first five albums of the group Chicago — “They had great arrangements,” she said. When she was about 30 years old, her children were small and sitting at the piano was impossible. So she prayed, specifically, for a certain guitar by Christmas and got one. She started learning a second instrument.

“I wanted it because I was up against a wall with songwriting and needed a new direction,” Lowry said. “Having a new instrument forced me to think differently in terms of song structure. Having another way to figure out what I’m hearing and to translate it helps. I don’t know how to describe it.”

What she is hearing is different these days. Unexpectedly, without clear understanding, Lowry has lost the hearing in one ear. Continuing with her music has taken great faith and perseverance to adjust to the multitude of things a performer must do to sing and hear accompaniment, especially when recording with playback.

“Rock My Baby Jesus,” is the first song Lowry wrote when her infant daughter refused to sleep. It was also the inspiration that grew into the “Women at the Well,” a program she presents to groups with songs and stories inspired by Christ’s female disciples. She has written the lyrics and most of the music for the program and tours the United States with co-writer and accompanist Joshua “Bubba” Murrell.

Together they are known as B&B on the Rock. When singing the blues, the band is called Blue Merlot. She also has tackled enough Hebrew to sing regularly at Temple Gates of Prayer in New Iberia, and sees this experience as a Divine Gift. “It’s all God!” she said.

She is a mother of two, married to David Lowry, and together they work in her family’s business, hoh-PAK Laboratory. For more than 10 years she worked in Oncology Social Work.

Among other organizational memberships, she recently became an associate of the Community of St. Mary in Sewanee, Tennessee, an order of Episcopal nuns who follow a Benedictine Rule of Life.

Without question, this songbird has taken flight.