Jerry and Claudia Howells
Executive/Pianist
March 03, 2020
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Whiting Room (Conference Center)
Claudia Howells
Claudia Howells has spent her life playing the piano, teaching music, being an arts administrator and providing her organizational skills with non-profit organizations. After graduating from East High School in Salt Lake City, where she received the President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership, Service and Dedication, she attended the University of Utah and graduated from Southern Utah University, (then Southern Utah State College) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a secondary education certificate, then went on to obtain a masters degree in education from Utah State University in Logan.
Claudia gave her first piano lesson in Cedar City to a neighbor's child and this launched a teaching career where she taught literally hundreds of piano students. For 31 years, wherever she lived in Utah...Parowan, Cedar City, St. George, Logan, Salt Lake City, Park City, Peoa and Oakley, she taught students of all ages and abilities. While living in Cedar City, Claudia was a volunteer musician for the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Rotary Club pianist and president of the Southern Utah Music Teachers Association. She received the SUSC Outstanding Musician Award in 1972.
She was a piano instructor at SUSC and taught music at Woodward Middle School in St. George, instrumental music in several elementary schools as well as choral music, PE and Pep Club at East High School in Salt Lake City. Her career turned to the newly organized Utah Opera Company where as assistant director, she was the administrator for the Opera-in-the-Schools Program, rehearsal accompanist, chorus director, coordinator of civic, church and community opera performances, and in 1983 was the conductor for the Christmas opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in the Capitol Theatre with members of the Utah Symphony.
Claudia expanded her career as fundraising coordinator for the 1985 International Winter Special Olympics, was assistant director of the Utah Arts Council, founder of the Park City Foundation for the Arts & Humanities and coordinator for Youth Enrichment Programs for the University of Utah’s Continuing Education in Park City. Her last teaching position before retiring, was at Carden Christian Academy in Park City where she taught music and started a string program. As a member of the SUU National Alumni Board, she was a valuable contributor, along with her husband, Jerry Howells, for the Alumni House renovation. Claudia enjoys the out-of-doors, many sports: skiing, golfing, fishing and playing tennis, music & theatre performances and is active in church and nonprofit organizations. She and Jerry live on a gentlemen’s ranch in Oakley, Utah, and have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Jerry S. Howells, Sr.
Jerry Howells has owned and operated several businesses over 45 years in diverse industries including paint manufacturing, commercial furniture systems and real estate developments. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BS degree in Sociology/Political Science.
He has served as President, CEO or Chairman of several companies, including Howells Paint, Inc.-Salt Lake City, Kwal Howells-Denver, Colorado, CCG Howells Furniture-Salt Lake City and DIRTT Environmental Solutions-Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Real estate developments include Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, White Pine Ranches in Park City, Landmark, a residential and commercial development at Kimball Junction- Park City and Troon North- Scottsdale, Arizona.
Past professional affiliations: Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Construction Product Manufacturer’s Council, National Decorating Products Association, Producers Council Intermountain Chapter, Summit Savings & Loan, Motion Control (Bio-Med R & D) and Olympus Angels Investment Group.
He has served in leadership positions at the University of Utah: Pioneer Theater Company, Alumni Association, Graduate School of Architecture, Presidents Club Committee, David Eccles School of Business National Advisory Board, College of Fine Arts, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Crimson Club and was a member of the Golf Team.
His civic affiliations include Rotary International, Park City U.S. Ski Team Advisory Board, Utah Opera Company, Boy Scouts of America, Egyptian Theater-Park City, National Society for Prevention of Blindness, Utah Showdown (PGA Tour Event), Wolfstock Foundation, Murray Boys and Girls Club, Youth Inc., SLC and Daniels Fund-Utah Advisory Board.
Mr. Howells is an avid golfer, skier and enjoys music, boating, fly-fishing, waterfowl hunting, cowboy poetry, traveling, aviation, World War II history, Western U.S. history and mentoring students.