 Howson, the niece of diva Emma Albertazzi (also born Emma Howson), was born in Hobart Town, Tasmania, and performed as a child in concerts with her father, Frank (a baritone and conductor) and her brothers.Her father, with his tenor brother, John, moved to Sydney in 1845 and remained based there until the mid-1860s when, at the suggestion of American actor Joseph Jefferson, the family travelled to America.Emma's early musical education and training therefore took place in Sydney, where one of her early mentors and teachers was the renowned English contralto Sara Flower.