Horn

Three French horn players performing

 

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

The horn studio consists of undergraduate 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 Music and Arizona State University. 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 available in both Woodwind Quintet and Brass Quintet. Both of these ensembles have placed in national and/or international competitions (Fischoff, Plowman, MTNA and others). Teaching Assistants run sectionals, hold office hours and have the opportunity to develop their pedagogy by working with undergraduate students.

There are three music major degree programs available to undergraduate horn students at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ·, designed to accommodate the needs of all types of potential music majors:

  • Bachelor of Music in Performance (BM) is 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) is a program with a strong emphasis on performance as a key aspect of teaching others how to perform. This program also explores various facets of education and music pedagogy in depth.
  • Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA) is a program with less intense musical rigor, but can be tailored to a students individual needs and interest. There may be a strong emphasis on lessons, performance and ensemble participation, if the student so desires. This program is well-suited to students also interested in other academic or musical pursuits.

There are also three degrees offered at the graduate level:

  • Master of Music in Horn Performance (MM) is 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) is almost identical to the MM in performance with the exception of different course requirements. This degree is for those interested in an intense approach to performance as well as a pedagogical background to offer a broader range of career options.
  • Doctor of Musical Arts in Horn Performance and Pedagogy (DMA) is the highest degree offered at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. DMA students develop highly individualized curricula in pursuit of their personal career goals.

During their time at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ·, 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 Symphony and the Central City Opera Orchestra. In the past seven years, a majority of regional orchestral positions (over 75%) has been won by members of the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ· College of Music 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), University of Wyoming, Denver Metropolitan State University and many others.

michael thornton

Photo courtesy Michael Kroth

Michael Thornton

Michael Thornton enjoys a distinguished and varied career as an orchestral performer, chamber musician, soloist and pedagogue. He joined the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as Principal Horn 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 Principal Horn of the Honolulu Symphony. An avid chamber musician and a recognized soloist internationally, Thornton has been a featured performer at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (NM), Mainly Mozart (CA) and Medellin Festicamara (Colombia), among many others. He joined the College of Music faculty in 1999. MORE

 

Upcoming brass + percussion events

Contact

Michael Thornton
Professor of Horn
michael.thornton@colorado.edu
303-492-7721
, C147

More

Undergraduate alumni

Isabel DeBoel, BM 2012—Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Development

Rebecca Fathman, BM 2014—Sound of Music National Tour, Solo Horn; Beauty and the Beast National Tour, Solo Horn; Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, Second Horn

Jason Friedman, BM 2018—Hawaii Symphony, Fourth Horn; Fort Collins Symphony, Fourth Horn; Greeley Philharmonic, Assistant Horn

Michal Garner, 2017—

Claire Glover, BME 2017—

Shannon Hagan, BME 2015—Noorlandsoperans Symphony (Sweden), Third Horn; Orchestra NOW, Principal Horn

Megan Hurley, BM 2020—Sarajevo Philharmonic, Second Horn

Malcolm McLean, BM 2012—Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Fourth Horn

Maggie Rickard, 2016—

Cort Roberts, BM 2017—Orquestra Filarmonica de Sonora (Mexico), Principal Horn    

Shannon Spark, 2016—

Chandler Spoon, MM 2019—Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Principal Horn; Central City Opera, Second Horn

Graduate alumni

Selena Adams, DMA 2014—United States Army Field Band, Second Horn

Ben Anderson, DMA Performance + Pedagogy 2016—

Kelsey Bentley, MM 2017—Knoxville Symphony, Fourth Horn

Josh East, MM 2019—Tulsa Symphony, Second Horn; Central City Opera, Fourth Horn    

Tom Ferrin, MM 2012—Opera Colorado Orchestra, Second Horn

Jonathan Groszew, MM 2013—Coloardo Symphony Orchestra, Personnel Manager

Jordan Miller, MM 2017—Air Force Academy Band, Horn       

Raya Panoya, AD 2019—Fort Collins Symphony, Second Horn

Ben Shafer, MM 2020—Cheyenne Symphony, Principal Horn

Katherine Smith, DMA 2014—University of Wyoming, Horn Professor     

Clark Stewart, MM 2018—Sun Symphony (Vietnam), Second Horn

Each year, the horn studio is proud to present a major guest artist; the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ· Horn Guest Artist Series has become a key horn event at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ·. Students from area universities have also attended recitals and master classes presented by these artists who include:

  • Lawrence Vine, National Arts Centre Orchestra Principal Horn (2011)
  • Randy Gardner, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Former 2nd Horn Philadelphia Orchestra (2011)
  • David Amram, Conductor, Composer, Jazz Horn (2011)
  • American Horn Quartet (2010)
  • Phil Myers, New York Philharmonic Principal Horn (2008)
  • Eric Ruske, International Horn Soloist (2006)
  • William VerMeulen, Houston Symphony Principal Horn (2005)
  • Randy Gardner, Former Philadelphia Orchestra Horn 2 (2005)
  • Richard Todd, LA Chamber Orchestra and Studio Musician (2004)
  • Julie Landsman, Metropolitan Opera Principal Horn (2003)
  • Greg Hustis, Dallas Symphony Principal Horn (2002)
  • Jeffry Kirschen, Philadelphia Orchestra Third Horn (2001)
  • Gail Williams, former Chicago Symphony Associate Principal Horn (2000)