Introducing Howard McGill as a Vandoren UK Artist
'Vandoren UK is delighted to welcome Howard McGill to their artist roster. Howard plays on a range of Vandoren reeds, mouthpieces and ligatures across saxophone and clarinet.' Welcome to the Vandoren family Howard! ✌
At the age of 21, Howard was fortunate enough to play with Frank Sinatra in Monte Carlo, a once in a lifetime experience and for the past 30 years has carved out a prolific career as a London-based musician playing a range of instruments and styles on soprano/alto/tenor/baritone saxes; clarinet/bass clarinet; flute/alto flute/picc; wind synth and percussion. Vandoren products have been a constant part of his life.
Howard started playing the clarinet at age 7 followed shortly afterwards by the alto sax, flute and piano. He played in a local show band run by Gordon Campbell, lead trombone with the BBC Big Band and at the age of 17 he was asked to join the newly formed NYJO II run by Paul Eshelby.
By 19 he was playing Lead Alto with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra run by Bill Ashton where he remained for 7 years, performing annually at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club. At 21 he won the BBC Don Lusher prize for best up and coming jazz musician in Britain.
After graduating from Jesus College Cambridge with honours in Engineering, Howard studied jazz and studio music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
He joined the BBC Big Band in 1999 on lead Alto under the direction of Barry Forgie and Jiggs Whigham and played with the likes of Clark Terry, Ray Charles, Bobby Watson, Bud Shank, Phil Woods, Pete Christlieb, Georgie Fame, Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices and Michel Legrand.
Howard has guested with the following Orchestras: RPO, RPCO (European Star Wars Tour), LSO (with Eddie Daniels), Philharmonia, LPO, CBSO, Northern Symphonia, Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, The Hallé, RTE Concert Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Bergen Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic, The John Wilson Orchestra and Sinfonia of London.
He has played for a host of legendary performers including Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, The Spice Girls, George Benson, Will Young, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Donna Summer, Shirley Bassey, Barry Manilow, Michael Bublé, Hugh Jackman, Harry Connick Jr. and Robbie Williams.
Howard has also toured the world over the past 20 years with Vanessa Mae, including playing opposite Michael Jackson and for 10 years he played lead Alto with the Matthew Herbert Big Band performing throughout Europe and at Glastonbury and the Big Chill. He is currently touring with Anton du Beke from Strictly Come Dancing.
In recent years he has performed with John Barrowman on his UK Pop Tour and TV show Tonight’s The Night as well as playing on Parkinson TV show, Strictly Come Dancing Tour and TV show and Saturday Night Divas. He also appeared with the house band for the X-Factor TV shows appearing with Tony Bennett and Backstreet Boys.
He has recorded Sir Richard Rodney Bennett’s Tenor Sax Concerto written for Stan Getz with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Bolero with the Sinfonia of London. He also played as a soloist on The film and TV music of Angela Morley.
Howard has performed on many Movie soundtracks including Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Avengers Endgame, The Batman, Amsterdam, Don’t Look Up, Isle of Dogs and Maestro. He also co-wrote and performed the music for the children’s TV series Brum.
Howard is a Vandoren UK artist.
Howard McGill's Vandoren Setup
