Douglas Howard

One of the leading orchestral percussionists of his generation, Douglas Howard served the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for forty-three years as Principal Percussionist and Associate Principal Timpanist, retiring in 2018. He also was Interim Principal Timpanist for the orchestra’s 2009-10 season. After graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1970, Mr. Howard joined the United States Air Force Concert Band in Washington, DC, first as a percussionist, and later as timpanist. Upon completion of military service, he was awarded a fellowship to study with Charles Owen at the Aspen Music Festival, and also was appointed Principal Percussionist of The Louisville Orchestra (KY). He began his work with the Dallas Symphony in 1975, and has since performed as a guest percussionist with eight other major American orchestras. Mr. Howard headed the percussion program at the Meadows School of the Arts (SMU) in Dallas for 41 years and has been a member of the Artist Faculty in Aspen since 1982. He was a 2023 recipient of the PAS Lifetime Achievement in Education Award. His work can be heard on Dallas Symphony recordings, spanning four decades, for record labels including RCA, Angel-EMI, Telarc, Dorian, Delos, and Pro Arte.