The Horn Call Podcast

Our guest for this episode of The Horn Call podcast is Wojciech Kamionka, the host of IHS 58 in Poland! Episode Highlights Musical journey, current teaching position IHS58 preparations, news/updates What IHS58 attendees can expect Musical life in Poland, opportunities for horn players Polish Music Edition: New method book  Scales and Arpeggios book: Penderecki Academy Press

Our guest for Episode 66 is Christopher Brigham! Chris is an American horn player and educator who is currently living in Cologne, Germany, with an active freelance career and private teaching studio. He is the author of "Olga’s Last Call: The Horns of Auschwitz" in the April 2025 issue of The Horn Call.  Episode Highlights Early studies with Mike Harcrow, Karen Houghton Studying at West Texas A&M University, then Hartt School (David Wakefield) Studying in Germany (Essen, Detmold) Recovering from focal dystonia Auditions in Germany Switching to an Alexander 103 horn Klaus Fehr Horns: https://fehr-frenchhorns.com/ Teaching/Freelancing in Germany https://www.muvac.com Article in The Horn Call, Olga’s Last Call: The Horns of Auschwitz Conducting an enthusiast horn ensemble at IHS symposia  

Join me in Episode 65 for a conversation with the amazing Kristina Mascher-Turner!  Episode Highlights Early inspirations, musical and otherwise Early training on the horn Attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studying with Douglas Hill “You have to fall in love with fundamentals.” Studying/Working/Living in Europe Advice for horn players looking to study/work abroad Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra Work with the American Horn Quartet (hornquartet.com), chamber music AHQ Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBz4drOokaM New teaching position in Ghent, Belgium: KASK & Conservatorium School of Arts in Ghent schoolofartsgent.be Favorite exercises for the horn, teaching philosophy, etc.

Our guest for Episode 64 is the amazing Ken Pope! Ken is the owner of Pope Horns and has been a member of the IHS Advisory Council. Episode Highlights Early Musical Journey and Transition to Horn Repair Career in Instrument Repair and Sales Instrument Maintenance and Repair: The single most important maintenance tip for brass instruments is to oil the valves. Balancing Performance and Business Advice for Aspiring Repairers/Retailers Current State of the Business and Future The International Horn Society

Join us in Episode 63 for a conversation with the great Randy Gardner! A member of the IHS Advisory Council, Gardner is currently Artist-In-Residence at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance.  Following a distinguished tenure as Professor of Horn and Chair of the Winds, Brass, and Percussion Department at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus.  Episode Highlights Early career and inspirations, musical and otherwise Studying with Philip Farkas, Chris Leuba, Bill Adam Leuba, A Study of Musical Intonation 50 years of service with Philadelphia Orchestra Sitting next to Mason Jones in Philadelphia Orchestra *Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjfE0iWguwE&list=OLAK5uy_kiTaEimus2uI3DFtx5Sj69usbM8eEos5k&index=2 Importance of visualization Teaching philosophy, advice for new professors/teachers Natalie Douglass Grana, A Singing Approach to Horn Playing Bruce Adolphe, The Mind’s Ear “Would you study with you?” “Blow a long tone through the horn.” “Be a virtuoso person.” Books, other publications, etc. Legacy Horn Experience https://www.legacyhornexperience.com/ Legacy Horn Experience mouthpiece Paul Basler, Four Hymn Tune Settings Kendall Betts Horn Camp Serving on the Advisory Council, importance of the HIS Modular Music Masterclasses: https://randygardnerhorn.com/ https://randygardnerhorn.com/modular_music_masterclasses.htm  

In this episode, we sit down with composer, horn player, and music preparer Steven Juliani! Episode Highlights Early Horn Studies Studies at Curtis Institute of Music Graduate studies at USC: studying with Vincent DeRosa Professional Playing in Los Angeles Transition to Music Copying Starting His Own Copying Business Law School (In His 40s) Practicing Law Return to Music and Composition Relationships with fellow musicians Recent Commission and Performance with Chicago Symphony Horn Section "I think my story is about being able to adapt and change gears and see new opportunities. And I I think that's an important skill to have for any musician."

Happy 2025! Our guest for Episode 55 is the amazing Brian KM! Show Notes Brian's Website: briankm.com  Brian's Socials: IG: @imbriankm YT: @imbriankm TikTok: @imbriankm The AI Code of Ethics for Artists: https://www.briankm.com/ai.html  Musical Influences: https://juliakent.com  https://danielherskedal.com  https://www.rachelkcollier.com  https://www.daftpunk.com  Brass Bands: https://diebrasserie.com  https://www.brassdelirium.com Conan Clip: What an Audience Wants https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxx87HaDx1VlpAwqqZvAIqPZbF1s84LaAK?si=SNQhXuA2zDu14WEK Ableton Live: Brian's Software https://www.ableton.com  Musical Entrepreneurship Advice: http://meganihnen.com  Brian's Audio Setup (See below)  

Join us in Episode 52 for a conversation with Ian Zook, Professor of Horn at James Madison University and the host of IHS57! Episode Highlights Growing up in North Carolina, attending UNC Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan. Studying with Sören Hermansson and natural horn with Lowell Greer Trading North Carolina stories Favorite horn recordings Celebrating the differences and subtleties in horn playing around the world Czech School of Horn Playing, Tylšar brothers Horn and More Column, Horn on Record, ianzook.com IHS 57 planning, June 24-28, 2025: www.heritage-horns.com How to get to Harrisonburg, Virginia Join the IHS!

Join us for a special bonus episode of The Horn Call Podcast on Injury Recovery with Nick Fife and Joey Johnson. Nick and Joey are both active performers and teachers in the Southeastern United States, and they have created a new column focused on injury recovery for The Horn Call.

Our guest for Episode 48 is Marshall Sealy, a multi-talented artist who has performed all over the world, including the 54th International Horn Symposium as a Featured Artist. Episode Highlights Starting out as a horn player Kinhaven Music Camp: https://kinhaven.org/ Singing in Bach cantatas Touring with the Long Island Youth Orchestra Attending Ithaca College on both music and soccer scholarships! Studying with John Covert Studying brass instrument repair Meeting Julius Watkins and studying with him Importance of being a well rounded player Friendship with Jerome Ashby Performing in Mexico Performing multiple styles Importance of warming up, equipment Advice for young horn players Willie Ruff Importance of sound Have a really great practice mute and stop mute. Instrument maintenance advice  

Episode 45 of The Horn Call Podcast features Tommi Hyytinen, a member of the Finnish Radio Orchestra and horn and natural horn faculty at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. Episode Highlights Starting out on the horn Finnish horn playing tradition Attending the Sibelius Academy The path from student to professional Balancing school and professional work Musical inspirations, legacy of Holger Fransman Studying with Radovan Vlatkovic Audition process in Finland Instruments used in horn sections in Finnish orchestras The “Finnish Horn Sound” Chamber music work Golden Horns Quartet, performing on television in Helsinki Pop music influences Playing from the Core book Work with Pilates Breathing misconceptions Lieksa Brass Week

Join us in Episode 42 for a chat with John McGuire, Associate Professor of Horn at Colorado State University, and the host of the 2024 International Horn Competition of America AND the 56th International Horn Symposium, July 26 – August 2 in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Episode Highlights Planning process for IHCA and IHS Symposium: https://hornsonthehorizon.com/ Shout out to Nancy Joy! How competitions can be beneficial Venue: Colorado State University and Fort Collins, CO Rocky Mountain National Park Weather, altitude, staying hydrated! Guest Artists for IHCA The planning team for IHCA/IHS56      

Our guest for Episode 39 is the multi-talented Shanyse Strickland! Episode Highlights Switching to the horn from flute Auditioning for college on flute, horn, and euphonium! Studying with Bill Slocum and Stacie Mickens at Youngstown State University. Be a good musician first, and a good instrumentalist second Early inspirations on the horn Respect for Julius Watkins “I just like challenging myself.” Changing in undergrad from being a flute performance major to horn! Shoutout to Stacie Mickens! How a mouthpiece change was lifechanging. Freelancing, performing on Broadway in New York “Think outside of the box.” “The industry wants somebody different.” Getting started as a composer, first commission for Lantana Brass Trio’s album, Crossing Barriers: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Barriers-Bernofsky-Rodriguez-Strickland/dp/B0BNGHXRT9 Shoutout to Margaret McGillivray Into the Spider-verse Tour with the Broadway Sinfonietta

We kick off Season 4 and Episode 38 of the Horn Call Podcast with Leelanee Sterrett, a member of the New York Philharmonic!  Episode Highlights Musical influences, early experiences at Interlochen Arts Academy Shout-out to Julie Schleif Shout-out to Douglas Hill Graduate study at Yale, studying with William Purvis Preparing for competitions and auditions Advice for music students today Women Composers – repertoire in general Practice/maintenance routine Daily/Weekly schedule in the NY Phil Involvement with the IHS

Our guest for Episode 41 is Musician 1st Class Erika Loke, a member of the United States Naval Academy Band and Editor of the Military Matters column in The Horn Call. Episode Highlights Graduate school at Wichita State, performing with the Wichita Symphony orchestra Doctoral school at the University of Maryland, Auditioning for military bands Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland Band Excerpts to know: American Overture, John Williams Moving across the country Attending Kendall Betts Horn Camp with her father Horn and Electronics album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=557_IZ2_oxQ&list=OLAK5uy_lSjVMkog_4c0mhjBkHOYR4DrpdGnkobUc Shout out to the IHS Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance Fund The Ring Cycle, abridged for Wagner Tuba and Piano with offstage horn More music for Wagner Tuba Performing with the Lieurance Wind Quintet Life in the Naval Academy Band Balancing work and family life Upcoming projects Shout out to Brian KM and Nick Fife!

Join me in Episode 40 for a conversation with Caiti Beth McKinney, creator of the REPresent Project and Podcast! Episode Highlights On choosing the horn over violin and other instruments Musical influences, horn and otherwise Most interesting practice spaces Shout outs! to Heather Test, Michelle Stebleton, Gina Gillie, Ashley Killam, Lin Foulk Baird, Ken Amis On loving film music, studying with Richard Todd https://richardtoddmusic.podia.com/ REPresent project and podcast: https://www.caitibethmckinney.com/represent-the-podcast Boulanger Initiative https://www.boulangerinitiative.org/ Diversify the Stand https://www.diversifythestand.org/ https://www.linfoulk.org/index.html https://www.temresource.com/ Resources for performers and teachers Upcoming events, performances, etc. “There’s so much good music out there.”

My guest for Episode 37 is Dr. Margaret McGillivray! Dr. McGillivray is on the faculty of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the Washington, DC, an active freelance musician, and the organizer/initiator of the new solo collection LIFT: Solos for Horn by Black Composers, available from Cimarron Music Press. Episode Highlights Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the Washington, DC https://www.ellingtonschool.org/ Freelancing in the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia) area. Background on the project LIFT: Solos for Horn by Black Composers https://www.cimarronmusic.com/liftsolosforhornbyblackcomposers Shout out to Joanna Ross Hersey Tips for commissioning new works: “your network is bigger than you think…” Shout out to Bryan Doughty of Cimarron Music Press Next steps for the project: recording, presentation at IHS55, creating a non-profit https://www.margaretmcgillivray.com/  

Join us in Episode 34 of The Horn Call Podcast for a conversation with Pascal Deuber, Principal Horn in the Bavarian State Orchestra at the Bavarian State Opera, and First Prize winner in the 2021 ARD Competition. Episode Highlights Current performing positions, rehearsal schedules Musical education/training Preparing for the ARD competition, advice for other horn players who want to compete Favorite pieces to play Interests outside of horn playing Listen to Pascal perform Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2 in the 2021 ARD Competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYQMBU9KY9w Munich Opera Horns: https://www.staatsoper.de/en/septemberfest-2022-bios/munich-opera-horns

In Episode 33 we have more archival audio from the First Annual French Horn Workshop held at Florida State University in 1969. This is a panel discussion with Philip Farkas, Barry Tuckwell, James Chambers, Anton Horner, Wendell Hoss, and Max Pottag. The panel (which appears to be moderated by James Chambers) took written questions, and questions from the floor. Episode Highlights Schools of playing  Solo playing developments Transposition Intonation Difficult openings Max Pottag and Anton Horner Playing in bands

In the first of this multi-part series featuring audio from past IHS symposia, John Barrows (1913-1974) gave what sounds like a masterclass at The First Annual French Horn Workshop, held at Florida State University in 1969. At some point during the session he took questions from the floor.  Episode Highlights mouthpieces, Conn 8Ds, and Verne Reynolds mouthpieces, his own playing, and Geyer horns bore and playing styles Bruno Jaenicke (1887-1946) and famous recordings of the time playing style, hand stopping