Since his first professional church job at age 13, Dr. Howard has held a number of noteworthy positions, including Garden Grove Community Church (Assistant Organist), Hollywood Presbyterian Church (Organist), and All Saints Church, Pasadena (Associate Organist-Choirmaster). He was Artistic Director of the 65-voice Foothill Master Chorale, and served for some 15 years as Chorusmaster for the Los Angeles Music Theatre Company. In 1998 he made his operatic conducting debut with LAMTC, leading singers and the orchestra in Mozart’s Bastien and Bastienne and The Impresario.
In increasing demand as an organ recitalist and collaborative artist, Dr. Howard's performances have been hailed as "precision-cut" and filled with "superb grace and élan" (Orange County Register). He is featured regularly on American Guild of Organists (AGO) chapter and church recital series, and this year marks his fifth season at the Corona del Mar Baroque Music Festival. He played solo pieces and accompanied Hollywood Presbyterian Church's Cathedral Choir on their British Tour, with performances at York Minster and the cathedrals at Lincoln, Durham and Edinburgh. He has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella group, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the choirs of Long Beach City College. Earlier this season he played his organ score for the silent film Nosferatu at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, and From the Manger to the Cross in a series of four performances in South Dakota. Most recently he participated in the Los Angeles AGO's presentation of the complete Organ Symphonies of Charles Marie Widor, playing Symphony VIII to an enthusiastic audience of his peers and the public.
In 1999, Dr. Howard was musical advisor and recording artist for the world premiere of The Presentment at the Pasadena Playhouse. His recorded organ scores to accompany the silent films Nosferatu, From the Manger to the Cross, and The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ are widely available. For the last two seasons he has arranged and led a recording of choral music for the HBO series Big Love.
Dr. Howard’s work as composer and arranger and performing collaborator can be heard on Christopher Parkening’s Simple Gifts (Angel Records), an album of sacred music for guitar; and his string and wind arrangements accompany pop/rock singer Brian Reeves on Never Looking Back (Briro Records). He also has several published compositions and arrangements to his credit.
Dr. Howard has been active in the AGO, having served as Dean, Sub-dean, Education Chair and in other roles for local chapters. He also served two terms as Regional Councillor, representing Region IX on the National Council. Most recently he was a teacher and recitalist at last Summer's Pipe Organ Encounter in San Diego.