Ollie’s musical education began with piano lessons at his family home in Warborough at the age of 7, before attending at Wallingford School (where he started learning the drums) and then going on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, where he graduated with a first-class honours degree in 2011. It was whilst studying at music college, that Ollie also caught the ear of music legend Quincy Jones, who has since become Ollie’s friend and mentor. Jones has publically praised Ollie’s musical talents, saying “An unbelievable drummer. So creative I couldn’t believe it. This kid really is a 360-degree beautiful young cat that I believe has what it takes to make a life out of music”.

This award comes after a year where Ollie’s debut album, ‘Sutures and Stitches’, was released worldwide on Whirlwind Recordings to massive critical acclaim (including glowing praise from The Guardian, The Financial Times and MOJO Magazine, amongst many others), and after recently winning the prestigious Peter Whittingham Development Award, administered by the Musician’s Benevolent Fund. This debut album also has an incredible back-story, with all the compositions written during various periods of hospitalisation, after Howell was suddenly diagnosed with a brain malformation in 2009.

When asked about his feelings on this award win, Howell said “I still can’t believe it really. It’s going to be such an incredible experience. I’ve been so thankful for all the recent praise that my debut album has been receiving and to all the audiences at our gigs, and I can’t wait to get started on this next project! I’d obviously like to say a huge thanks to Sky Arts and Ideas Tap for this amazing opportunity”.

With Ollie’s debut album quickly flying off the shelves worldwide, his next Sky-sponsored endeavour will be recording his next CD at the end of the year, which will also feature a live DVD, to be released in 2015, and a documentary on Sky Arts. Already having amazed audiences around the country on his last UK tour in 2013, including 2 sold-out night’s at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London (as special guest support for jazz legend Jimmy Cobb, another of Ollie’s mentors), Ollie will be touring again in the Autumn, and will also be playing at some of the biggest UK jazz festivals this Summer. More information and Howell’s tour dates are available on his website (www.olliehowell.com), where you can find links to buy his critically acclaimed debut album.

With an exciting year ahead, Howell is sure to continue taking the jazz-world by storm, and this recent award win will undoubtedly help bring his critically acclaimed music to a far larger audience.

To check out samples of each track and to purchase Ollie’s debut release (CD or high quality MP3)  please click here.