Alys Howe – Nova Scotia

harp player

Autumn. Fall is the big season for music in Nova Scotia, but I love summer for ocean swimming and I miss the cherry blossoms of spring in Vancouver! – Alys

Alys Howe has appeared as a performer and recording artist throughout Canada, Scotland, and Ireland. Currently living in Nova Scotia, Alys loves exploring Cape Breton-style piano on the harp.

Alys studied foundationally with Elizabeth Volpe, Sharlene Wallace, and Heidi Krutzen. She was the first overseas harp student accepted to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance, and earned her Masters in Traditional Irish Music Performance from the University of Limerick.

Alys has appeared in orchestras including Symphony Nova Scotia, Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Opera, and National Youth Orchestra of Canada.  She has taught for University of Limerick, the Gaelic College in Cape Breton, Goderich Festival, Boxwood Festival, Feis Slighe Nan Gaidheal, Vancouver Academy of Music, Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and many other organizations. 

Some favourite performances include the World Harp Congress, Mission Folk Festival, CelticFest Vancouver, and Vancouver Television. Awards include two Mod Gold-Medals, The Watkins Fellowship, and grants from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Alys particularly loves recording collaboratively with other musicians, and accompanying choir or vocal ensembles.  Her album phosphorescence combines innovative arrangements of traditional tunes, new compositions, and songs in both Scots and Gaelic.

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