Taking the sound of the harp to new places is what Canadian musician Alys Howe is all about. With performances that explore new stylistic territory, Alys will shake your belief that harp music can only be soothing.
Drawing upon her classical roots, Alys also immersed herself in the ancient modalities of the Scottish and Irish harp traditions, training in Scotland (RSAMD), Ireland (University of Limerick), and Cape Breton (Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts) to weave three strands from the Celtic traditions into a unique new soundscape. With an approach dedicated to promoting multiculturalism in the music she loves, Alys has appeared in many different concert venues, on radio, television, and documentary programs performing as a soloist and in ensemble – both live and in the studio. Performances have taken her from the Isle of Skye, to Pioneer Villages to playing before the Prime Minister of Slovenia. Alys has appeared at CelticFest Vancouver, The Mission Folk Festival, with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The National Youth Orchestra of Canada, The West Coast Symphony, Prince George Symphony and Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra. As an accompanist she has worked with Pandora’s Vox, Ariel Sung, Jubilate Choir, and The Vancouver Gaelic Choir. Crossing the border into the US, Alys has performed at Seattle’s Dusty Strings on several occasions, most recently as a duo with harp partner Seumas Gagne. Alys Howe’s debut recording, Phosphorescence (2005), combines innovative arrangements of traditional material with new compositions, and features songs in both Scots and Gaelic. Demonstrating her masterful understanding of the techniques developing among contemporary harp players, Alys has won awards of distinction including two Mod Gold-Medals, The Watkins Fellowship, and grants from the Canada Council for the Arts. A dedicated teacher and tradition-bearer, Alys shares her love of the harp with students world-wide.
Exploring her instrument with passionate energy and dexterity, the music of Alys Howe will open your ears to the diverse contemporary sounds of the harp.
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