Alison Howell - Accompanist

Alison Howell studied at the Royal Academy of Music and graduated with BMus (London) in 1985. Following a post-graduate year she was awarded scholarships by The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, The Tillett Trust and The Worshipful Company of Musicians to continue her studies with David Sanger in London and Jacques van Oortmerssen in Amsterdam. On passing FRCO in 1987 Alison won the prestigious Coventry Cathedral Recital Award for outstanding performance of the pieces.

Alison works in Bristol as a freelance musician. She is organist of St John the Baptist Church, Keynsham. With the choir there she has made numerous recordings (including programmes for BBC Sunday half hour), and accompanied the choir on tours and cathedral visits. As a recitalist she has played in many cathedrals, concert halls and churches. Recent recital venues have included Bath Abbey, Truro Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral.

Alison frequently accompanies choral groups and soloists in the Bristol area. She is currently the accompanist for the University of the West of England Singers and Chamber Choir.

As a conductor Alison has worked with the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Male Voice Choir. She was their musical director for 8 years during which time the choir recorded three CD’s, including a live recording of the choir’s 40^th anniversary concert of two hundred massed male voices in Wells Cathedral. Most recently she has rejoined the accompanist’s team and plays for up to fifteen concerts with the choir each year.

Alison works as an examiner for the Royal School of Church Music and also teaches piano in several local schools. Her interest in music education led her to research interactions between sight reading ability in young pianists and variables including motor ability, handedness, reaction times and aural imagery ability to complete an MA at Reading University.