Bruce and Sharon Howarth have played before tens of thousands in live, broadcast and recorded performances. These Muscle Shoals musicians have shared the stage, developed projects with and backed-up some of the music industry's finest artists in the rock, classical, jazz and worship music genres.
L.A. born guitarist and composer, Bruce Howarth is an award-winning classical composer, having had his compositions performed at the world renowned Aspen Music Festival, Prisms contemporary music ensemble in Santa Barbara, California, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and most recently, several commissioned arrangements and orchestral works for the Shoals Symphony in Alabama. He is a published concert reviewer and has authored program notes for various symphony, university and concert ensembles across the U.S.
L.A. born guitarist and composer, Bruce Howarth is an award-winning classical composer, having had his compositions performed at the world renowned Aspen Music Festival, Prisms contemporary music ensemble in Santa Barbara, California, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and most recently, several commissioned arrangements and orchestral works for the Shoals Symphony in Alabama. He is a published concert reviewer and has authored program notes for various symphony, university and concert ensembles across the U.S.
Sharon is an internationally published songwriter and recording artist with Vineyard Music International, an independent music producer and she has served in domestic and international platform worship ministry with Christian leaders from evangelical, charismatic and prophetic circles.She has 40 years of experience in the recording studio environment as solo artist, arranger, back-up vocalist, keyboard and as a recording techniques and production director.
A short list of some musical collaborations during their 25 year-plus performance careers : Muscle Shoals players and country songwriters Will McFarlane, Earl "Peanutt" Montgomery, David McKay, Walt Aldridge, producer/songwriter Gary Baker, Shane Baker, Ronnie McDowell, Frank Iarossi, Malcolm Singleton, Iron Horse Bluegrass Band; Over the Rhine's Linford Detweiler, jazz greats Ken Watters, Chuck and Robert Redd, Steve Krugman; The Grand Rapids, Cincinnati Conservatory and Shoals Symphony orchestras; internationally published worship songwriters Lenny LeBlanc, Danny Daniels and Chris Dupre.
Sharon and Bruce have concertized as principal players in the viola and horn sections of the Shoals Symphony, respectively, since 2003 and have previous decades of symphonic experience in L.A. and the midwest.
They both have extensive experience as private and class music instructors, many of their former students ultimately serving as worship leaders, missionaries, published composers, recording artists and performing musicians around the U.S. Songwriter/recording artist Katie Reider of Dawson's Creek fame, began her music studies under Sharon's inspiration and mentoring.
They both have extensive experience as private and class music instructors, many of their former students ultimately serving as worship leaders, missionaries, published composers, recording artists and performing musicians around the U.S. Songwriter/recording artist Katie Reider of Dawson's Creek fame, began her music studies under Sharon's inspiration and mentoring.
In addition to their concert level classical careers, they are frequently invited to perform in jazz, classic rock and contemporary music venues, including the world renowned Handy Blues Festival.
Sharon is a published writer/web journalist and has recently founded Possibilitive Films, previously producing a short documentary. She has several proposed media production projects and is shopping her memoir on their family life with autism, with several publishers.
Bruce is developing a body of curriculum on film scoring to instruct, by seminar or semester basis, courses for several distance film studies programs in the U.S. Through his Riverbluff Music Company, he offers private music theory and composer mentoring, film scoring instruction and creation, music arranging and notation services, as well as his published notes for symphony programming.
Bruce and Sharon are youthful parents of six children and three young grandchildren, who have an affinity to inspire and involve younger generations. They joyously admit they've never outgrown their rock-and-roll roots and their interest in current culture. Their two youngest sons, in their teens, still live at home.
