Artistic Director and leader of the Sunwrae Ensemble, Rae Howell, is a Melbourne-based composer and performer on piano and vibraphone. She works regularly as a multi-instrumentalist (also on trumpet and mellophone) and performs as a guest artist crossing various genres in live performance, recording and international touring. In addition to the Sunwrae Ensemble, Howell composes and performs live for an Australian Puppet Theatre Company Peepshow Inc, an Improvised Dance Ensemble State of Flux, and numerous project-based film and mixed-media ventures.

Howell was a finalist in the 2006 APRA Professional Development Awards and is a represented composer of Cantilena Music in London, UK. Howell's collaborations extend internationally to diverse audiences of music and sound; she has been a Musician in Residence at The Banff Centre in Alberta Canada, and The Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida USA.

She has worked with jazz musician/composer and Blue Note Records Artist Sam Rivers (USA), Royal Society of Arts Fellow and composer/percussionist Eugene Skeef (Sth Africa/UK) and currently works by correspondance in an ongoing electronic recording project with engineer Jon Cohrs (USA), in 'Rabbits without Spleens'.

"The Sunwrae Ensemble are fronted by the talents of musician, composer and vibraphonist extraordinaire Rae Howell. Their set was mesmerizing." Tim Clarke, Luna Kafé concert review, 2005

"Sunwrae…weaves a calming magic" Clive O'Connell, The Age 2006

"Rae Howell's compositions on Sunwrae's album "Never Stops to Wait" are hypnotic, minimal, otherworldly and very inspirational." Dane Tucquet, Melbourne Musician, 2005

"The Sunwrae Ensemble have true power and a brilliant finish…" Karl Schwonik, Calgary, Canada 2006

Rae Howell EAVESDROPPING

at St Stephens

Soluble Sun - Rae Howell - solo piano and 2nd movement with Belinda Woods on alto flute;

Undertow Rae Howell - vibraphone; Xanya Mamunya - harp; Karen Heath - clarinets; Luke Richardson - double bass;

Chinook Winds Rae Howell - piano; Karen Heath - clarinet; Belinda Woods - alto flute; Luke Richardson - double bass; Pip Atherstone-Reid - drumset/percussion;

Camel Rae Howell - vibraphone; Luke Richardson - double bass; Pip Atherstone-Reid - drumset/percussion;

Polly Rae Howell - vibraphone; Seth Rees - guitar; Luke Richardson - double bass; Pip Atherstone-Reid - drumset/percussion;

Merry Go Round - Rae Howell - vibraphone; Xanya Mamunya - harp; Karen Heath - clarinet; Belinda Woods - alto flute; Seth Rees - guitar; Luke Richardson - double bass; Pip Atherstone-Reid - drumset/percussion;

CD download US$9.75

Rae Howell Video

Rae Howell October 2005

1. Faraway Castle- piano & string quartet

2. Mind You Do- piano & string quartet

3. Underneath- vibraphone, string quartet, double bass, harp, 2 x percussion.

4. Camel- vibes, double bass & percussion

5. The Sweeper- solo piano

6. Soluble Sun- solo piano

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RAE HOWELL VIDEO

Rae Howell Sept 2005

1. Decipher the Crooked Ways (vibes, harp, clarinet & lap-steel guitar. approx.30min)

2. Never Stops to Wait (vibes, bass clainet & lap-steel guitar. approx. 9min - we did two versions of this one, as there was quite a few noises in the first take!)

3. Catch Me if You Can (vibes, harp, clarinet, double bass & percussion. approx 7min)

4. Faraway Castle (solo piano. approx.8min)

5.Piano

6. Underneath (solo vibes)

CD download US$9.75 COMING SOON