Roy Howat

Roy Howat is a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Keyboard Research Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music, London. His academic roles combine advanced research with artistic performance. A graduate of King’s College, Cambridge (Doctorate in Music), he specialized in French music under Vlado Perlemuter in Paris. His dual career spans pianism and scholarship: he is a Steinway Artist, renowned for performances of French repertoire, and an editor of seminal works like the Paris-based Complete Debussy Edition and Fauré Urtexts for Peters Edition.

Research interests focus on French music, particularly Debussy, Fauré, and Schubert. Key achievements include Debussy in Proportion (1983), which applied Fibonacci ratios to analyze Debussy’s structures, and The Art of French Piano Music (2009 Book of the Year). He has held university posts globally and collaborates internationally, including with the Panocha Quartet and Sarastro Ensemble.

Publications include over 70 scholarly editions, chapters on Bartók, Chopin, and Ravel, and peer-reviewed articles. Awards include citations from International Record Review and Classical Music. His engagements blend academic lectures (e.g., Debussy symposia) with public performances, showcasing his dual expertise in musicology and performance.