My artistic mission is to:
Manifest an honest communication of my understanding of the human condition in both real and recorded time and space in such a way that an observer might, through the full and sustained engagement of their senses of sight and hearing (and by logical extension, touch), have the opportunity to ecstatically transcend the boundary of their physical body and experience in real time the normally metaphorical union with That Which Is Greater Than Themselves.
I want to take people outside of themselves by singing to them, and thus give them the opportunity to incorporate that experience into their normal waking lives.
My Press Pack Bio:
Noted for his polished sound, clear resonance, and powerful enunciation by San Francisco Classical voice (sfcv.org) and called "Agile, [and] otherworldly. . . by the Miami Herald, Ian Howell, Countertenor, has performed on major concert stages across the United States, Europe, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan. Mr. Howell recently took First Prize at the American Bach Soloists International Solo Competition with an acclaimed performance of Bachs Cantata, Vergnüte Ruh, and Third Prize (and made his Carnegie Hall Debut) at the prestigious Oratorio Society of New Yorks Competition. This Blacksburg, VA native can be heard with the all male chamber choir Chanticleer on one DVD and seven CDs, including the GRAMMY award winning Lamentations and Praises, and the GRAMMY award nominated Our American Journey. Highlights of recent seasons include Mr. Howells Yale Opera debut as Oberon in Brittens A Midsummer Nights Dream; travel to England as a soloist with the Yale Schola Cantorum; to Quito, Ecuador to perform Vivaldis solo Cantata Nisi Dominus with the Quito Barroco Chamber Orchestra; and to Milan, Italy to reprise Oberon and perform Purcells The Fairy Queen (First Countertenor) with the Orchestra Sinfonica Milano Giuseppe Verdi. In August 05 he traveled to Budapest and Esztergom, Hungary to perform Handels Messiah (alto soloist) at The Third International Monteverdi Choir Festival. Mr. Howell recently participated in a project for Naxos to record the complete songs of Charles Ives and appeared as Athamas in the February 06 Yale College Opera Theater production of Handels Semele. Future seasons include repeat performances with The American Bach Soloists, Orchestra New England, The Blacksburg Master Choral (Virginia), and The Choir and Orchestra of Christ Church Broadway (New Haven) and a debut with the Back Bay Choral (Boston). Mr. Howell is dedicated to spreading awareness of the countertenor voice, and has given master classes and lecture/demonstrations across the country. Mr. Howell will graduate this December with a Masters degree in Early Music, Song, and Chamber Ensemble offered jointly by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and the Yale School of Music.
