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every day and every event is better with music
For lessons and performances, please visit the "Teaching" and "Booking a Performance" page (links above)
Biography
Howland is a guitarist, bandleader, composer, arranger, songwriter, educator, and private instructor, engaged in a wide range of music. He teaches jazz and classical guitar and co-directs the annual PLU Guitar Festival at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. He has taught ear training and jazz history. He gives clinics at universities, colleges, guitar societies, and private venues. He has highly awarded undergraduate, Graduate, and Doctoral degrees from University of Idaho and Arizona State University, where he was a student of James Reid and Frank Koonce in classical guitar performance. He remains a passionate classical guitarist through teaching, performing, arranging, and active participation in the Seattle classical guitar community. He has done many solo and ensemble adaptions of pieces by Albéniz, Bach, MacDowell, Mozart, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Turina. He has published numerous online sound recordings and video recordings, most recently a string of guitar demos for Seattle's Rosewood Guitar. He has been featured on recordings and large scale CD releases as a writer and studio guitarist for independent artists and bands, including the Seattle based rock band Motopony. He is passionate about live music, leading bands for public and private events, playing jazz, original music, dance music, and more. He has played with many outstanding musicians in the Seattle Jazz scene, including Melyssa Stone, Nate Omdal, Clipper Anderson, Gordy Ryan, Kyle Doran, Mark Ivester, Adam Kessler, Brad Gibson, Marco De Carvalho, Jared Hall, Kate Olsen, Jason Parker, Cassio Vianna, among others.
Howland has played countless Northwest venues, including Anthony’s Homeport, Arts West, Bell Harbor Ballroom, Bitters Cafe, Bright Water Skinner Theater, Canlis, Captain Whidbey Inn, Center For Spiritual Living, Chapel of St. Ignatius, Chateau St. Michelle, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Dragonfly Retreat, Edgewater Hotel, Eliot Bay Yacht Club, Everett Arboretum, Everett Manor, Frye Art Museum, Hyatt Bellevue, Illahee Manor, Lagerquist Concert Hall, Lake Union Crew Boathouse, Mary Baker Russell amphitheater, Marymore Park Mansion, May Flower Plaza Hotel, Montevilla Farmhouse, Mountain Home Lodge, Mount Baker Community Club, Museum of Flight, Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, Olympic Sculpture Park, Pacific Place Center, Palisades, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Pravda Studios, Ray’s Boathouse, Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, Salty’s on Alki, Salish Lodge, Scriber Gardens, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian-Art Museum, Seattle Mennonite Church, Seattle University, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Skansonia, Sodo Park, Sorrento Hotel, Suncadia Resort, Suquamish Longhouse, Sylvan Grove Theater, Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church, The Acorn, University Plaza Hotel, Washington Athletic Club, Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Willows Lodge, Woodland Park United Methodist Church, University of Washington Faculty Club, UW Grieg Garden, Washington Care Center, Woodland Park Zoo, and many others.
Howland has played countless Northwest venues, including Anthony’s Homeport, Arts West, Bell Harbor Ballroom, Bitters Cafe, Bright Water Skinner Theater, Canlis, Captain Whidbey Inn, Center For Spiritual Living, Chapel of St. Ignatius, Chateau St. Michelle, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Dragonfly Retreat, Edgewater Hotel, Eliot Bay Yacht Club, Everett Arboretum, Everett Manor, Frye Art Museum, Hyatt Bellevue, Illahee Manor, Lagerquist Concert Hall, Lake Union Crew Boathouse, Mary Baker Russell amphitheater, Marymore Park Mansion, May Flower Plaza Hotel, Montevilla Farmhouse, Mountain Home Lodge, Mount Baker Community Club, Museum of Flight, Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, Olympic Sculpture Park, Pacific Place Center, Palisades, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Pravda Studios, Ray’s Boathouse, Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, Salty’s on Alki, Salish Lodge, Scriber Gardens, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian-Art Museum, Seattle Mennonite Church, Seattle University, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Skansonia, Sodo Park, Sorrento Hotel, Suncadia Resort, Suquamish Longhouse, Sylvan Grove Theater, Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church, The Acorn, University Plaza Hotel, Washington Athletic Club, Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Willows Lodge, Woodland Park United Methodist Church, University of Washington Faculty Club, UW Grieg Garden, Washington Care Center, Woodland Park Zoo, and many others.