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The American counter-tenor, Ian Howell, received a Bachelor of Music degree from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio in 1998. He graduated in December 2006 with a Master of Music Degree in Voice offered jointly by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and the Yale School of Music. In 2006, he took First Prize at the American Bach Soloists International Solo Competition with an acclaimed performance of J.S. Bach's Cantata BWV 170, Vergnügte Ruh, and Third Prize at the Oratorio Society of New York's Competition.
Ian Howell sings with a warm and seamless tone rarely heard from counter-tenors. Praised by the New York Times for his "clear voice and attractive timbre" and San Francisco Classical Voice for his "flawless singing," he has performed on major concert stages across much of the world. Recent roles include the alto soloist in George Frideric Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, Endimion in Cavalli's La Calisto, and Lichas in G.F. Handel's Hercules.
Ian Howell has worked with such conductors as Kent Tritle, John Scott, Jeffrey Thomas, Neville Marriner, Simon Carrington, and James Sinclair. Recent seasons have seen him appear with ensembles and orchestras across the USA and Canada, including American Bach Soloists, Oratorio Society of New York, Musica Sacra (NYC), Choral Arts Philadelphia, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Berkshire Choral Festival, Princeton Glee Club, Tableau Baroque, and The Choir of St Thomas 5th Ave (NYC).
His 2009-2010 season features solo debuts with the Ravinia Festival (Chicago, Illinois - Beginner's Ear recital), the Handel Choir of Baltimore (Messiah), The New York Metamorphosis Orchestra (Joacim in G.F. Handel's Suzanna), Chatham Baroque (Pittsburgh, PA - Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater), Musica Angelica (Los Angeles - J.S. Bach's St. John Passion BWV 245), and The Columbus Guitar Society (Ohio - in recital). He returns for performances with the American Bach Soloists (Bay Area, CA - Messiah) and with the Staunton Music Festival (Staunton, VA).
Ian Howell can be heard with the all male chamber choir Chanticleer on one DVD and seven CDs, including the GRAMMY award-winning Lamentations and Praises and the GRAMMY award nominated Our American Journey. His debut solo CD with the American Bach Soloists was released in March of 2009 featuring repertory by D. Scarlatti, J.S. Bach, and G.F. Handel.
Ian Howell is committed to spreading awareness of the counter-tenor voice and is an active teacher and clinician; he maintains a teaching studio in the New Haven area, in Philadelphia, at Swarthmore College, and in New York City. |
