Biography

Graham Howard was born in Penrith, Australia in 1973. At the age of ten, he began studying trumpet and by 1987, Howard had begun to conduct publicly. In late 1987 he began to compose his first short pieces for trumpet. In 1990 and 1991, he co-won the SSO School Composer's Competition, resulting in First Prelude and The Secret Flames being recorded and performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Howard completed a Bachelor of Music (Hons) at The University of Sydney in 1996, majoring in Composition. His composition teachers included Anne Boyd, Ross Edwards and Peter Sculthorpe. He has held numerous conducting positions in Sydney, and also conducts freelance throughout NSW.

In 1997, Howard accepted a position with the State Rail Authority as a signaller (railway traffic controller). He then progressed through to become an Area Controller, and soon after was promoted into training, projects and management, where he remained until resigning in February 2004 to return to music full time. He taught and lectured composition at The Australian International Conservatorium of Music in 2003. He taught brass and conducted numerous ensembles at The King's School, Parramatta, from 2003 to 2005, and was also Head of Composition in 2005.

He is active as both a composer and orchestrator, and has written many works including the film music for Triple Concerto in D Minor, a short film by Dan Mitchell. He was composer-in-residence at Border Music Camp in 2005 and 2006, with almost 50 compositions performed, including over 30 world premieres. Compositionally, Howard has also been heavily influenced by Holst, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, John Williams, Grainger, Alfred Reed and David R. Holsinger. He also has strong influences from various jazz and fusion styles.

He is currently teaching and conducting in the mid-north coast area of NSW. He is also the photographer for The Nature Conservation Council of NSW, a role he has been doing since 2005.
 

       

                                                           Photography © 2007 by Graham Howard

Read more about Graham in his full biography.