William Howland (musician)

William A. Howland (1 May 1871 – 3 May 1945) was an American operatic bass, voice teacher, composer, conductor and university administrator. He was the head of the music department at the University of Michigan from 1900-1914. In 1914 he co-founded the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts; serving as the school's vice-president and head of the vocal department until his death 31 years later.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Howland was the youngest of six children born to Emma Lane Howland and her husband Dr. Asa Allan. His mother was a direct descendant of John Howland, a pilgrim who travelled from England to North America on the Mayflower, signed the Mayflower Compact, and helped found Plymouth Colony. His father was a prominent dental surgeon and was notably the first president of the Dental Association of New England. William served as President of the Pilgrim John Howland Society from 1924-1945.

After attending grammar school and graduating from English High School in Worcester in 1889, Howland moved to New York City where he pursued music studies, sang in various churches, and also taught singing through 1894. In New York he studied singing with Frederick Bristol, music theory and composition with Dudley Buck, conducting with Frank Damrosch, piano with Albert Ross Parsons, and the organ with Richard T. Percy. He also pursued further studies abroad during the summer months of the early 1890s; studying the oratorio repertoire in London with Alberto Randegger and Frederick Walker, and music composition, musical analysis, and opera with Alfred Lorenz in Germany.

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