Shawna Howard
Director of Friends in Music
Shawna Howard is a violinist and orchestra director from Central Kentucky. Mrs. Howard attended Eastern Kentucky University where she received a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Education. While at EKU, she performed with the Symphony and Strings Orchestras as well as in musicals and various chamber groups. While in college, Mrs. Howard began a private lesson studio which grew to include numerous students across Central Kentucky from a variety of ages and backgrounds.
Mrs. Howard began working with the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras directing the Friends in Music program in 2007. At that time, the program needed a strong revitalization.
Over the course of five years, the program grew to include close to eighty students. The students at LTMS and BSMS were benefitting from instruction from the CKYO mentors and many of them began to successfully audition into a CKYO orchestra.
In 2012, Mrs. Howard and her husband moved to Texas where she became the head orchestra director at McLean Middle School and McLean 6th Grade Center. During her time at McLean, the program grew to include around 200 students. Each year, the orchestra received sweepstakes 1st Division ratings at Festivals. The middle school orchestra also received the Best Overall Ensemble at music festivals numerous times. The orchestra program also developed a strong private lesson program with around half of the students taking private lessons during the school day.
Mrs. Howard moved back to Kentucky in 2017 where she began working with Friends in Music again. She is also a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association.
Mrs. Howard is most proud of her wonderful family. She has four children and an amazing husband. Her oldest two children are learning to play the bass and cello as well!