Margaret Lowe was born and grew up in the industrial area to the west and north of Birmingham, usually called the "Black Country" because of its heavy industries. Interest in music, especially piano music, was stimulated by listening to a favourite aunt who was her first and only teacher until she was admitted to read music at the University of Birmingham under Professor Anthony Lewis, and simultaneously study piano at what was then the Birmingham School of Music.

Flute lessons began soon after, under Sydney Head who was then 2nd flute and piccolo with the BBC Midland Light Orchestra.

After graduation, she continued flute studies with Geoffrey Gilbert and developed work teaching and playing the flute, particularly with the then developing flute choir. This aroused interest in the larger flutes and she subsequently organised a number of flute choir days and commissioned several works for larger flute groups. She is now retired, but maintains an interest in flutes of all sizes.