Robert A. Howard

Robert A. Howard is a prolific English composer, writing within a melodic post-tonal/modal idiom. Robert's catalogue of over 150 pieces are all published via SMP. His pieces are sold and performed across the world, especially in the UK and USA, and recently in Nigeria, Africa. Robert's music has received over 450 performances by beginners, amateurs, schoolchildren and students through to professional musicians. 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) and 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, and 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 and for others, such as the sequence of six Mosaic solo pieces (2010-15), for harp, harpsichord, guitar, vibraphone, celesta and tuba. As a bassoonist, he has written many solo and 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 (20-35 minutes long) for standard groupings such as the 2023 String Quartet No. 2 ('Locomotion'), and from 2024: the Violin Sonata No. 1 ('Circling'), and the Piano Trio No. 2 ('Arcs').
 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 and 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 some unaccompanied choral pieces, and some 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).
 All of Robert works available via SMP are professionally typeset. PDFs include scores and a full set of parts.
 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 (studying Composition with Vic Hoyland & Michael Zev Gordon). Rob then completed a PhD in Composing (mainly for amateur musicians) at Goldsmiths College, University of London (studying with Philip Cashian & Sadie Harrison, amongst others), whilst lecturing at the College and stewarding at London's Royal Albert Hall. He has composed prolifically for beginners through to professionals ever since.
 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, and conducting three student orchestras. The College enjoys an enviable musical reputation, an extensive extra-curricular programme and concerts schedule, regular foreign tours, and high uptake and success in GCSE & A Level Music.