Dorothy Howell (1898–1982)

Composer and pianist Dorothy Howell was born in Birmingham and grew up in Handsworth.

At the age of 15 she studied at the Royal Academy of Music where she later taught for 46 years until 1970. Her much praised Piano Concerto in D Minor and a symphonic poem, Lamia, were performed at the Henry Wood Proms when she was still in her twenties. She was nicknamed the ‘English Strauss’.

Published by Augener, her Phantasy in G Minor for violin and piano was the 1921 winner of The Cobbett Phantasy Prize.

Howell is buried in the same churchyard as Elgar, at St Wulstan’s, Malvern.