Jon Howe ’20 is now working towards a Master’s of Music in Composition at the Hartt School of Music. He also teaches a private studio of horn students and freelances as a composer and arranger.

Q. How did your URI degree best prepare you for your career path?

A. Time management and coordination. My time at URI really helped me develop the skills I needed to be a freelance composer. The time I spent working on my BM taught me the importance of juggling multiple projects alongside performing and coordinating concerts. The Arts and Sciences Fellowship gave me invaluable experience with writing proposals for projects and grants. Through the guidance of my professors, I gained the confidence to pursue my Master’s of Music at the Hartt School of Music. The music department at URI surpassed my expectations by encouraging development, inside and outside of the classroom, and providing me countless opportunities as both a performer and composer. 

In your opinion, what is the value of the arts both academically and in the community?

There is a saying I have used for my students in the past: “a picture is worth a thousand words and music is worth a thousand dreams.” The arts allow for an expression of self in ways that other mediums cannot match. Academically, we learn to think critically and independently when we study the arts. In our community, the arts allow us to discover and share our passions with others. As we have seen in the last year, the arts are essential to our society. They are always supporting, even if not always in the foreground of our minds.

What advice would you give to current students or to young people thinking of pursuing a Fine Arts degree?

Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. You never know where it might lead.