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pianist, violinist

BIO (SHORT)

Billie Howard is a multi-instrumentalist, sound artist, music educator, and event producer. As Akosuen, she composes experimental music that focuses on breathing cycles, chronic pain, and mediation on both quiet and extremely loud sounds.

Billie is a founding member of the contemporary music collective a.pe.ri.od.ic. and the experimental improvisation group NbN Trio. Her ensemble Aptera Strings plays weddings and events across the Midwest and hosts Classical Revolution Chicago. In addition to classical music, she writes, arranges strings, performs and plays keyboards and violin with countless bands in both recording sessions and live performances.

She holds a M.Mus. in piano performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University and B.A. in piano and violin performance from Montana State University. She is a 2021 3Arts Make a Wave grant recipient.

BIO (LONG)

Billie Howard is a Montana-born, Chicago-based pianist, violinist, violist, and educator. As a performer, she is inspired by contemporary and experimental music on the farthest ends of the volume spectrum, ranging from the quietest sounds to fully-amplified extremes. She also composes under the moniker Akosuen, where she appears on her primary instruments: violin and piano, as well as with an ensemble including expanded strings, voices, organ, and percussion. Billie maintains a private violin and piano studio in Chicago. She has served as an adjunct professor of piano at Concordia University Chicago, and on the teaching faculties of the British International School of Chicago, The People’s Music School, and Oak Park School of Music.

In demand as a freelance violinist, violist, and pianist, she has performed with musicians of all genres including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bobby Conn, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Noname, Chicago Composer’s Orchestra, Wrekmeister Harmonies, Minor Characters, Very Truly Yours, The Rutabega, and Mucca Pazza. An active session musician, she has been featured on studio recordings by American Idol winner Lee DeWyze, Grammy-nominated children’s artist Justin Roberts as well as many other recording artists.  

In addition to her music, she has served as artistic director for the arts incubator High Concept Labs and manager of external relations for the arts nonprofit Homeroom. She has curated concerts for Experimental Sound Studios The Quarantine Concerts, Elastic Arts, and more. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology.

She holds a M.Mus. in piano performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University and B.A. in piano and violin performance from Montana State University.