Will Howald

Will Howald joins the Pacific Symphony as Principal Timpani in 2026. Prior to his appointment, he held positions as Principal Timpani with the Erie Philharmonic and Section Percussion with the Spokane Symphony. He has also appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

Howald holds degrees from Florida State University and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His primary teachers were Ed Stephan and Dr. John Parks. In the summers, he was a fellow at Brevard Music Center and Aspen Music Festival. Howald is also an active educator, most recently teaching at Whitworth University and with the Spokane Symphony’s youth programs. 

Outside of the concert hall, he enjoys biking, reading nonfiction, improving his cooking, and playing other styles of music on guitar and drums.