Wayne Rowe, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, graduated from Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, in 1959. After he completed a bachelor's degree in music at Union College in 1963, Rowe taught music at Bass Memorial Academy in Lumberton, Mississippi. Following three years at BMA, he and his wife, Bette, moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he completed a master's degree in music in 1970, while teaching at Andrews University Academy. Rowe directed the choral program at AUA until his premature death at age 31.