Even before he entered high school, Dan Howells had a deep love for music, and he knew he would pursue it in some way when he entered college. He credits his Marblehead High choir director Andrew Scoglio with instilling in him a strong appreciation for music and music making, and in the fall of 2021, Howells enrolled as a music education major with a concentration in vocal music at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts.
After graduating with summa cum laude honors in May, Howells will soon begin his career as a music teacher, and he hopes to inspire the next generation of young students.
Howells said he was academically challenged at Rutgers in a very competitive music program where he took courses in music history, theory, orchestration and conducting, among others. “Each new concept and historical context deepened my appreciation and enthusiasm for the art,” said Howells.
Beyond the rigorous classes, he was involved in the Rutgers chapters of the National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association, where he gained valuable professional development experience. Howells also sang in the university’s Kirkpatrick Choir and was president of the Glee Club, which he found to be musically and socially fulfilling organizations.
To earn money for college during the summer, Howells worked at the YMCA Children’s Island Day Camp for several years, serving as the director of the counselor-in-training program this summer and last.
One of his most memorable college experiences was traveling to Italy on a summer performance tour with the Glee Club at the end of his freshman year. “We performed in various venues around the country, including Milan, Venice and Rome,” states Howells. “We even performed during a Mass at the Vatican.”
After four amazing years at Rutgers, Howells is eager to begin teaching fifth through eighth grade choir and general music at Terril Middle School in Scotch Plains-Fanwood, New Jersey. Long-term goals include earning a graduate degree and developing a strong middle or high school choral program somewhere along his career path. “Guiding young students through the process of making music has been such a joyful experience for me, and I am so excited that I will get to do it for the rest of my life,” he explains.
Howells fell in love with Rutgers University right away, and he knew the expensive out-of-state tuition would place a financial burden on his family. Receiving scholarships for each of his four years made it possible for him to pursue his passion at the school that was a perfect fit for him. Attending college in New Jersey allowed him to gain maturity and independence, and though he was far from home, he said it felt great knowing he was supported by the scholarship organization and the citizens of Marblehead who donate and make scholarships like his possible.
“I just want to say how truly grateful I am for the support I received from Marblehead Dollars for Scholars,” Howells reflects. “I hope to give back to the next generation the way Marblehead gave to me. Thank you for helping make my education and pursuit of my passion possible.”
Nancy Marrs is a member of the Marblehead Dollars for Scholars Board of Directors.
Dan Howells
