Biography
Robert A. Howard is a prolific English composer, writing within a melodic post-tonal/modal idiom. Robert's catalogue of over 180 pieces are all professionally published via SMP. His pieces are sold & performed across the world, especially in the UK & USA, and recently in Nigeria, Africa. Robert's music has received over 500 performances from beginners through to professionals. He has composed extensively for piano, solo instruments, chamber groups (& flexible ensembles), vocalists, choirs, and orchestras.
Robert has written over 50 solo piano works ranging from miniatures to extended pieces, such as the 7 early Preludes (1992-4), multi-movement suites (Mirror Image; 1997-8 & Three Sonnets; 2002-3), lengthy cycles (Seven Sketches; 2005-11 & Six Fragments; 2009-14) & the 2023 20-minute Piano Sonata No. 1 ('Bells').
Robert has composed extensively for flexibly-scored groups (such as COMA) between 2000 & 2010, including Ghost, Carousel, Journey, Three-Way Piece, Lines on a Walk I & II, & the series of 5 Promenade works.
Robert's solo instrumental works are considerable, with shorter early-grade pieces, through to substantial studies for the higher-grade student or professional. He has written solo pieces for all standard orchestral instruments & for others, such as the sequence of six Mosaic solo pieces (2010-15), for harp, harpsichord, guitar, vibraphone, celesta & tuba. As a bassoonist, he has written many solo & accompanied works for the instrument.
Robert's many chamber works are written for various instrumentations, including shorter works for unusual line-ups. By contrast, more recently he has written a series of extended, multi-movement chamber works (20-40 minutes long) for standard groupings such as the 2023 String Quartet No. 2 ('Locomotion'), the 2024 Violin Sonata ('Circling') & Piano Trio No. 2 ('Arcs'), and the 2025 Flute Sonata ('Jigs') & Piano Quintet ('Shadows').
Robert's choral works are amongst his most performed pieces (such as Jubilate Deo; 2016). They include a large number of short, very singable anthems & carols, for use in worship or in concert. Most of Robert's choral/vocal works are in versions for SATB, SSA, or for solo voice, usually with accompaniment. There are also unaccompanied choral pieces, & solo songs with piano.
Robert has composed a number of orchestral works, including pieces for full (Cortège; 2015), chamber (In Memoriam; 1997), string (Reflections; 1998) & wind orchestras (New Routes from an Old Castle; 1997).
Biography: Robert A. Howard (born 1977) was raised in Prescot near Liverpool in North West England. During his time at Prescot School he studied at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department in Manchester, before reading Music at the University of Birmingham. Rob then completed a PhD in Composition at Goldsmiths College, University of London whilst lecturing at the College and stewarding at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Robert has held several academic teaching posts, including as Director of Music at Deyes High School, Maghull, Merseyside (2007-13), with tours to London, Paris, Rome & New York. Since 2013 Rob has been Assistant Head of Music Faculty at St. Edward's College, Liverpool (Choir School to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral), overseeing composition at all levels, & conducting three orchestras. The College enjoys an enviable musical reputation, an extensive extra-curricular programme & concert/recital schedule, regular foreign tours, & high uptake and success in GCSE & A Level Music.
In addition, Robert holds long-term conducting posts with South Liverpool & Phoenix Concert Orchestras, Prescot Parish Church Choir, & regularly guest conducts Liverpool Mozart Orchestra. In 2005 he founded the Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts (& 'Arts in Prescot'), and has been its Artistic Director ever since.
