Rae Howell is an Australian freelance musician; composer and performer on piano & vibraphone. A graduate of The University of Melbourne Conservatorium, Howell is Artistic Director and Leader of the Sunwrae Ensemble, an innovative chamber group dedicated to performing her original works for piano, vibraphone, string quartet, harp, clarinets, alto flute, lap-steel guitar, double bass, drumset and percussion.
Howell produces a unique style of minimalist contemporary classical music; artistically implementing improvisation, creating eclectic textures and rhythmical intricacy. She works regularly as a multi-instrumentalist (also on trumpet,mellophone, glockenspiel & melodica) and performs as a guest artist with a vast range of musicians crossing various genres in live performance, recording and international touring.

In addition to the Sunwrae Ensemble, Howell composes and performs live for an Australian Puppet Theatre Company Peepshow Inc, with whom she is also an Artistic Advisor, an Improvised Dance Ensemble State of Flux through Dancehouse in Melbourne, and numerous international project-based film and mixed-media ventures. Howell was a finalist in the 2006 APRA Professional Development Awards and is a represented composer of Cantilena Music in London, UK. Howell was commissioned by Rocketship Theatre Company in 2002 to compose & perform live for a German Co-production at the ARENA International Theatre Festival in Erlangen Germany.

Howell's collaborations extend internationally to diverse audiences of music and sound; she has been a Musician in Residence at The Banff Centre in Alberta Canada, and The Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida USA. She has worked with jazz musician/composer and Blue Note Records Artist Sam Rivers (USA), Royal Society of Arts Fellow and composer/percussionist Eugene Skeef (Sth Africa/UK) and currently works by correspondance in an ongoing electronic recording project with engineer Jon Cohrs (USA), in 'Rabbits without Spleens'.

Howell has released an independent studio album (2005) called Never Stops to Wait, funded by Arts Victoria and the Australia Council, and three Live EP's (2004), one Live Album & DVD from a series of music recitals called Eavesdropping. Howell is the founder of 'eavesdropping', an annual touring series of musical concerts showcasing new music and exhibits of visual art. Eavesdropping recitals are recorded live and produced as a series of live CDs and DVDs, featuring diverse compositions and instrumentations.

Live Review:
"The Sunwrae Ensemble are fronted by the talents of musician, composer and vibraphonist extraordinaire Rae Howell. Their set was mesmerizing."
Tim Clarke, Luna Kafé concert review, 2005

"Sunwrae…weaves a calming magic" Clive O'Connell, The Age 2006
Studio Album Reviews:

"All five tracks are superb... Autumn is finally here, and so is its soundtrack."
Stephen McKenzie, Melbourne Weekly 2005

"Rae Howell's compositions on Sunwrae's album "Never Stops to Wait" are hypnotic, minimal, otherworldly
and very inspirational."
Dane Tucquet, Melbourne Musician, 2005

"The Sunwrae Ensemble have true power and a brilliant finish…" Karl Schwonik, Calgary, Canada 2006