Role

:

Conductor  

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Ann Howard Jones is a renowned classical music artist who has made significant contributions to the world of music as a conductor, educator, and performer. Born in 1946 in Atlanta, Georgia, Jones grew up in a family that valued music and the arts. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a lawyer who loved music and played the violin. Jones began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the violin and the French horn. Jones attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She later earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jones continued her studies at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting. Jones began her career as a music educator, teaching at several universities, including the University of Illinois, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also served as the director of choral activities at the University of Texas at Austin and the director of choral activities and professor of music at Boston University. Jones is known for her work as a conductor, having led numerous orchestras and choirs throughout her career. She has conducted the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, among others. Jones has also conducted choirs at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Vatican. One of the highlights of Jones's career was her appointment as the director of choral activities at the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1990. She was the first woman to hold this position, and she remained in this role until 2002. During her tenure, Jones led the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, which is the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Under her leadership, the chorus performed at the White House, the United Nations, and the Vatican, among other prestigious venues. Jones has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 2003, she was awarded the Robert Shaw Choral Award by the American Choral Directors Association, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the choral art. She was also awarded the Harvard University Graduate School of Education's Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award in 2015. Jones has also been recognized for her work as an educator. She has been a guest lecturer and conductor at universities and music festivals around the world, including the Aspen Music Festival, the Chautauqua Institution, and the Salzburg Festival. She has also served as a guest conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her work as a conductor and educator, Jones is also an accomplished pianist and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician. She has recorded several albums, including "The Choral Music of Samuel Barber" and "The Music of Randall Thompson." Jones has been a trailblazer in the world of classical music, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations of musicians and conductors. Her dedication to the art of music and her commitment to excellence have made her a beloved figure in the classical music community.

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