The University of Alabama Horn Studio, a group of talented horn players majoring in various programs in the School of Music, is turning heads on the international stage.
The group recently returned from the International Horn Competition of America and International Horn Society Summer Symposium in Fort Collins, Colorado, with multiple awards and acclaim from some of the most influential horn players in the world.
The high point of the trip was the UA Horn Octet winning the International Horn Octet Competition.
“Our students played an incredible performance in the competition round, and as a result of the victory, were featured during one of the major evening concerts where everyone in attendance got to hear them play,” said Charles “Skip” Snead, director of the School of Music. “I heard numerous compliments from colleagues, one saying that UA currently has the strongest studio anywhere on the planet.”
The symposium performance took place in front of more than 800 of the most respected horn players from around the nation and the world.
“The incoming president of the International Horn Society said, ‘That is one of the finest groups of students I’ve ever heard perform in my life,’” Snead said.
The UA Horn Octet was comprised of Harrison Bruner, Cam Bryant, Alexander Chung, Emily Johns, Matt Meadows, Hope Moebes, Ryan Ortakales and Tyler Winningham.
Additional highlights from the trip included:
- Harrison Bruner won the International Horn Symposium Student Soloist Competition.
- Bruner also won the Gretchen Snedeker Prize given for the best performance of one of the competition pieces.
- Tyler Winningham was one of four finalists in the International Horn Competition of America that included more than 100 competitors from around the world.
Nine members of the UA Horn Studio were able to perform in major master classes with international artists. The number of UA students participating in the master classes was significantly higher than students from other universities.
“Throughout the nine-day span of the IHCA Competition and IHS Symposium, The University of Alabama was mentioned over and over again at awards ceremonies and presentations,” Snead said. “Our students were amazing and represented us so well!
“In addition to their outstanding performances, they were wonderful citizens, always helping out, lending a hand to others, being supportive in every possible situation, and always showing the best face of how we do things at our University.”