Jackie Howard started playing oboe whilst at Primary school, having enjoyed a year learning recorder. She soon joined the David Lewis Military Band, that gave concerts in parks in Liverpool and Chester. Saturday mornings were spent rehearsing with Liverpool Junior Orchestra. At Secondary school in Denbigh, she became a member of North Wales Youth Orchestra. On completion of four years studying oboe, piano and singing at Northern School of Music and Manchester College of Education she joined teams of peripatetic music teachers in Liverpool, St Helens, Clwyd and Knowsley until becoming a freelance woodwind teacher in 1989. Jackie’s conducting/directing experiences have included Youth Orchestras (St Helens and Knowsley); Wind Ensembles (Mold Town Band and Chester Flute Choir) and Male Voice Choirs. She is a founder member of St Helens Sinfonietta and was the soloist for a performance of Telemann’s Concerto in A Major for oboe d’amore. She is an ardent ambassador for this instrument, used to great effect by J. S. Bach (St Matthew Passion). Two living composers were invited to share her passion and pieces Klezmer Odyssey (Tom Moss) and Chapel Folk Suite (Nigel Reeve) have become part of her concert repertoire. Jackie continues to teach woodwind instruments and music literacy. She performs regularly as a recitalist, wind band member and orchestral oboist. |