Horn

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Welcome to the horn studio at the ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado Boulder College of Music!

Our horn studio comprisesÌýundergraduate and graduate students; our graduate students have completed their undergraduate work at such prestigious institutions as The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Cleveland Institute, Eastman School of Music, Mannes College of MusicÌýand Arizona State ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Ensembles afford undergraduates a unique opportunity to perform alongside graduate students, allowing undergraduates to benefit from the graduate students expertise on a regular basis.

The horn studio has Graduate Teaching Assistantships (TAs) available in both our Woodwind Quintet and Brass Quintet; these ensembles have placed in national and/or international competitions (Fischoff National Chamber Music Association, Plowman Chamber Music Competition, Music Teachers National Association and others). TAs run sectionals, hold office hoursÌýand have the opportunity to develop their pedagogy by working withÌýundergraduate students.

During their time at CU Boulder, graduate and exceptional undergraduate students are encouraged to work in the many professional ensembles available in our region. Horn students perform regularly as full-time members or extra musicians with ensembles including the Colorado Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic, Greeley Philharmonic, Fort Collins SymphonyÌýand the Central City Opera Orchestra.ÌýIn recent years, a majority ofÌýregional orchestral positions (over 75%) has been won by members of our horn studio.

Alumni of the horn studio hold professional positions in orchestras and universities around the world including Hong Kong Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, U.S. Army Bands, Montevideo Philharmonic (Uruguay), Amazon Philharmonic (Brazil), Glens Falls Symphony (NY), ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Wyoming, Denver Metropolitan State ³Ô¹ÏÍøÌýand many others.

Undergraduate degree programs Graduate degree programs Recent alumni highlights Past alumni highlights Past guests
Undergraduate degree programs

We offer three music major degree programs available to undergraduate horn students at CU Boulder,Ìýdesigned to accommodate the needs of all types of potential music majors:

  • Bachelor of Music in Performance (BM): A highly intensive approach to performance with the goal to be gainfully employed as a performer and/or teacher at the college level.
  • Bachelor of Music in Education (BME): A program with a strong emphasis on performance as a key aspect of teaching others how to perform.ÌýThis program also explores various facets of education and music pedagogy in depth.
  • Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA): A program with less intense musical rigor, it can be tailored to students’ individual needs and interests. There may be a strong emphasis on lessons, performanceÌýand ensemble participation, if the student so desires.ÌýThis program is well-suited to students also interested in other academic or musical pursuits.

We offer three degrees offered at the graduate level:

  • Master of Music in Horn Performance (MM): A highly intensive approach to performance with the goal to be gainfully employed as a performer and/or teacher at the college level.
  • Master of Music in Horn Performance and Pedagogy (MM): A program that's almost identical to the MM in performance with the exception of different course requirements. This degree is for those interested in anÌýintense approach to performance as well as a pedagogical background to offer a broader range of career options.
  • Doctor of Musical Arts in Horn Performance + Pedagogy (DMA): The highest degree offered at the ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado Boulder College of Music. DMA students develop highly individualized curricula in pursuit of their personal career goals.

Alumni

Performance

  • 2027 Nathan Bonin: Wyoming Symphony, Second Horn
  • 2026 Jordan Spivack: Wyoming Symphony, Principal Horn
  • 2024 Max Braun: Hawaii Symphony, Second Horn
  • 2024 Phillip Palmore: San Francisco Ballet and Opera Orchestras, Second Horn
  • 2023 Maria Long: New Mexico Philharmonic, Associate/Third Horn
  • 2022 Valerie Sly: Alabama Symphony, Principal Horn
  • 2020 Megan Hurley: Baltimore Symphony, Associate Horn (one-year)
  • 2018 Jason Friedman: The Cleveland Orchestra, Substitute/Extra Musician
  • 2017 Taryn Lee: New World Symphony, Horn Fellow

Arts administrationÌý

  • 2022 Joy Xiaodan: Colorado Ballet, Director of Patron Services
  • 2020 Erika Hollister: Curtis Institute of Music, Marketing Specialist
  • 2013 Jonathan Groszew: Colorado Symphony, Director of Personnel
  • 2003 Lacey Huzscza: Richmond Symphony, Executive Director

Teaching

  • 2022 Dilon Bryan: ³Ô¹ÏÍø of North Georgia, Instructor of Horn
  • 2019 Carrie Proctor Borjas: Westview Middle School, Director of Bands, CO Young Music Educator of the Year 2022
  • 2017 Claire Glover: Mountain Ridge Middle School, Director of Bands, CO Young Music Educator of the Year 2020

By graduation year:

  • Nathan Bonin (BM ’28)—Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, Second Horn
  • Daniel Skib (DMA ’26)—Boulder Philharmonic, Fourth Horn
  • Jordan Spivack (MM ’26)—Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, Principal Horn
  • Max Braun (MM ’24)—Hawaii Symphony, Second Horn
  • Abbie French (MM ’23)—Sound of Music Global Tour (Asia), Solo Horn
  • Kira Goya (MM ’23)—Billings (MT) Symphony, Fourth Horn; Bakersfield (CA) Symphony Orchestra, Second Horn
  • Maria Long (DMA ’23)—New Mexico Philharmonic, Third/Associate Horn
  • Phillip Palmore (DMA ’23)—San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Fourth Horn; Boulder Philharmonic, Fourth Horn (former)
  • Joy Xiaodan (MM ’23)—Colorado Ballet, Patron Services Manager; Colorado Symphony, Associate Manager of Sales and Patron Services (former)
  • Dilon Bryan (DMA ’22)—³Ô¹ÏÍø of North Georgia, Horn Instructor
  • Michael Sgrecci (MM ’22)—Bozeman (MT) Symphony, Second Horn
  • Valerie Sly (DMA ’22)—Alabama Symphony, Principal Horn; Des Moines Metro Opera, Third Horn
  • Erika Hollister (BM ’20)—Temple ³Ô¹ÏÍø, Wind/Brass Program Coordinator
  • Megan Hurley (BM ’20)—Baltimore Symphony, Associate Principal Horn; Phoenix Symphony, Second Horn (former); Sarajevo Philharmonic, Second Horn (former)
  • Ben Shafer (MM ’20)—Cheyenne Symphony, Principal Horn; Fort Collins Symphony, Principal Horn; Instructor of Horn, Regis ³Ô¹ÏÍø
  • Josh East (MM ’19)—Tulsa Symphony, Second Horn; Central City Opera, Fourth Horn
  • Raya Panova (AD ’19)—Fort Collins Symphony, Second Horn
  • Carrie Proctor (BME ’19)—Colorado Young Music Educator of the Year 2022
  • Chandler Spoon (MM ’19)—Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Principal Horn; Central City Opera, Second Horn
  • Jason Friedman (BM ’18)—Hawaii Symphony, Fourth Horn; Fort Collins Symphony, Fourth Horn (former); Greeley Philharmonic, Assistant Horn (former)
  • Clark Stewart (MM ’18)—Sun Symphony (Vietnam), Second Horn
  • Jonathan Johnston (DMA ’17)—³Ô¹ÏÍø of Idaho, Assistant Professor of Horn; Fort Collins Symphony, Principal Horn; ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Wyoming, Horn Professor (former)
  • Taryn Lee (BM ’17)—New World Symphony, Horn Fellow
  • Jordan Miller (MM ’17)—U.S. Air Force Academy Band, Horn
  • Maggie Rickard (BM ’17)—Sarajevo Philharmonic, Second Horn (former)
  • Cort Roberts (BM ’17)—Orquestra Filarmónica de Sonora (Mexico), Principal Horn
  • Shannon Hagan (BME ’15)—Noorlandsoperans Symphony (Sweden), Third Horn; Orchestra NOW, Principal Horn (former)
  • Selena Adams (DMA ’14)—U.S. Army Field Band, Second Horn
  • Rebecca Fathman (BM ’14)—Solo Horn, Sound of Music National Tour; Solo Horn, Beauty and the Beast National Tour; Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, Second Horn (former)
  • Katherine Smith (DMA ’14)—³Ô¹ÏÍø of Wyoming, Horn Professor
  • Jonathan Groszew (MM ’13)—Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Personnel Manager
  • Isabel DeBoel (BM ’12)—Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Development
  • Malcolm McLean (BM ’12)—Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Fourth Horn
  • Kevin Lam (MM ’11)—Glens Falls Symphony (NY), Second Horn
  • Rebecca Bainbridge (BM ’09)—U.S. Army Field Band, Third Horn; Boulder Philharmonic, Assistant Principal Horn
  • Alexander George (DMA ’09)—Executive Assistant to the Dean, ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado Boulder; Denver Metropolitan State College, Horn Professor (former)
  • Carlie Kilgore (MM ’09)—Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (NY), Second Horn; Cabrillo Music Festival, Assistant Horn
  • Scott Holben (BM ’08)—Macao Symphony Orchestra (China), Second Horn; Festival Mozaic (CA), Second Horn
  • Andrew Houde (MM ’07)—York College (PA), Horn Professor; Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Second Horn
  • Mark Wiebe (BM ’07)—Amazonas Filharmonicas (Brazil), Third Horn
  • Matthew Eckenhoff (MM ’06)—Colorado Symphony, Fourth Horn; New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, Second Horn (former); New World Symphony, Horn (former); Honolulu Symphony, Fourth Horn (former)
  • Megan Garrison (MM ’06)—Orquesta Sinfónica de las Artes (Mexico), Third Horn; Fort Collins Symphony, Assistant Horn; Antero Wind Quintet
  • Jeffrey Rubin (MM ’06)—Boulder Philharmonic, Second Horn; Cheyenne Symphony, Second Horn
  • Alexis Bainbridge (DMA ’05)—U.S. Army Music School, Horn Instructor
  • Benjamin Greenberg (MM ’04)—Jerusalem Symphony, Second Horn
  • Lisa Rogers (BM ’04)—Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Solo Horn; Hong Kong Symphony, Co-Principal Horn (former); Theater und Orchester Heidelberg, Associate Horn (former)
  • Stephen Slater (MM ’04)—Richmond Symphony, Assistant Principal Horn; Jerusalem Symphony, Assistant Horn (former); Philadelphia Orchestra, Artist Relations (former)
  • Jennifer Dodson (MM ’03)—California Polytechnic State ³Ô¹ÏÍø, Horn Professor; Central City Opera, Third Horn (former)
  • Lacey Huszcza (BM ’03)—Richmond Symphony, Executive Director
  • Jamie Campbell (BM ’01)—Montevideo Philharmonic (Uruguay), Principal Horn; 101st Airborne Division Band, U.S. Army

Each year, the horn studio is proud to present a major guest artist; the CU Boulder Horn Guest Artist Series has become a key horn event at CU Boulder.ÌýStudents from area universities have also attended recitals and master classes presented by these artists who include:

  • 2026 Liz Freimuth: Cincinnati Symphony (retired); Rice ³Ô¹ÏÍø
  • 2026 John Mason: LA Studio Horn; Horn Repair Specialist
  • 2026 Dan Vidican: Lukas Horns; Memphis Symphony (retired)
  • 2025 Matthew Eckenhoff: Colorado Symphony
  • 2025 Meghan Guegold Hege: The Cleveland Orchestra
  • 2025 Kolio Plachkov: Colorado Symphony
  • 2024 Rachel Childers: Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • 2024 Selena Maytum: U.S. Army Field Band
  • 2024 Valerie Sly: Alabama Symphony

Michael Thornton

Michael Thornton enjoys a distinguished and varied career as an orchestral performer, chamber musician, soloist and pedagogue. Thornton has performed on six continents with acclaimed ensembles and has presented master classes at prestigious musical institutions including The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, Rice ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the Royal Northern College of Music (UK) and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (AU). Thornton holds concurrent appointments as Principal Horn of both the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony. He joined the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in 2017 and joined the Colorado Symphony Orchestra during the 1997 season, and in this capacity has worked with renowned classical and popular artists from Yo Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Renee Fleming to songwriter Randy Newman and Phish frontman Trey Anistasio. Before joining the CSO, he left his studies at The Juilliard School to become the Principal Horn of the Honolulu Symphony. MORE

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