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Ask a Pro
Coordinated by Bill VerMeulen, the Ask a Pro section offers IHS members only a chance to have their (horn related!) questions answered by leading professionals. Responses will be in the form of videos posted on the IHS YouTube channel and embedded on this page. To ask a question, send an email to: This address is for IHS members only. Either log in above or Join today
This and other IHS videos can be found on our IHS YouTube Channel.
Question:
"We often have dress rehearsals the morning of the performance even when playing works such as Mahler 6! To add insult to injury, we also rehearse the night before which means we play the program 3 times in a 27-hour period (Fri rehearsal 7-9:30pm, Saturday dress rehearsal 10am-12:30pm, and Sat performance 7:30-10pm). What do you recommend as the best way to recover to be able to successfully make it through this demanding schedule of services?"
Bill VerMeulen's Answer
Question:
I am New York state music teacher (trombone) and I judge solo festivals. I had some high level french horn solos the past few years—not many—but a few——sometimes I would suggest asking their teacher about developing vibrato—I thought it was worth exploring——however—recently I was “schooled” by a horn teacher that I should never do that——horn players avoid vibrato like the plague. I never take points off their solo—offer it as a suggestion. I guess I have missed the boat————any way Do you have any suggestions? thanks Matthew Bond
Bill VerMeulen's Answer:
While it is true that some styles of horn playing don’t endorse the use of vibrato, you will find that vibrato use varies dramatically geographically throughout the horn world. Before the digital recording age horn playing developed geographically with sounds and styles that varied greatly. Vibrato was widely used within the French, Russian, East German, Czech horn communities and more. Horn sound and vibrato use was personal and often passed on within the tradition of the region and pedagogy. Although the sound and styles of the horn have homogenized some over the years vibrato use is still a personal and effective addition to expression not dissimilar to its use on any other instrument or voice. As such, I see no harm in encouraging vibrato use done tastefully with service to the music and the tradition of sound and style which best suits your feeling of the composer’s intent. I personally have no problem with judicious use of vibrato on Ravel Pavane or Tchaikovsky 5th but am less inclined to find it effective or necessary for Brahms or Bruckner. In recital and concerto work I am more inclined to endorse vibrato which adds color to the music and sound. Vibrato should be done to add color and increase musical line. Sadly, many use vibrato to mask a lack of center to one’s tone and pitch. Of the types of vibrato; Jaw, finger, breath, lipping, I feel strongly we should emulate singers with breath vibrato. It keeps the air moving and adds to the overall musical line. While many Americans may eschew vibrato use as a matter of dogma I disagree and use quite a bit in my personal solo playing, especially in Jazz styled works and vocal transcriptions. I am glad you don’t take points off and encourage you to champion anything you believe will best serve the music since that is our sacred trust.
Links
| YouTube: the Horn Channel Interesting, entertaining, educational and of great historic value. This is a collection of short videos by Ifor James, Hans Pizka and Greg Cass. | Il Club del Corno The Italian Horn Club. Mostly in Italian with some English translations. |
| The British Horn Society Dedicated to the art, craft and fun of horn playing. | www.ivasi.org Interactive Video Audition Service International ("IVASI"): An Inter-Active Video Guide for Orchestral Preparation, developed by IHS life member James Decker |
| Nederlands Hoornisten Genootschap Dutch Horn Society (in Dutch only) | Horn Articles Online A large collection of information on horn playing and horn history by John Ericson. |
| 日本ホルン協会 Japan Horn Society (in Japanese only) | www.hornexcerpts.org A large site featuring music and recorded examples of horn excerpts by Daren Robbins. |
| www.waltornia.pl A site run by Damian Walentek of the Polish National Radio Symphony in Katowice, for the promotion of the horn in Poland (Polish Lanaguage only) | Pip Eastop Inventions, articles, and much more in a site by a well-known British player. |
| www.hoorn.be A Belgian horn site (in Flemish only) | Dick Martz Photos and descriptions of an interesting personal collection of horns. |
| www.trompista.com A Portuguese language horn forum. | Hornplanet.com A fun site, created by Thomas Bacon. |
| Hornplayer.net Free classifieds, 300 page information archive, Walter Hecht's Significa, section listings, and more by Robin Moffatt. | Julia Rose's Horn Page Notes from master classes by Mark Lawrence, David Krehbiel, Arnold Jacobs, audition lists, and more. |
| Embouchures.com Hornist Lucinda Lewis shares information for brass players suffering with embouchure problems or lip injuries. | Bob Ward's Homepage Check out the warm-up book and other information from this San Francisco Symphony hornist. |
| http://www.wienerhorn.com All things horn in Vienna. Includes articles, a forum and a marketplace. In German only. | http://www.iwbc-online.org/ Website of the International women's Brass conference. |
| An enthusiasm for Dennis Brain A tribute website to Dennis Brain (1921-1957). [Japanese and English] | Hans Pizka's Homepage Bios of famous hornists, advice for young players, big pictures, and more. |
BLOGS What is a blog? See The Horn Call, Oct. 2006, p. 44.
| Barry Tuckwell: A Life With French (sic) Horn A podcast interview from the University of Melbourne. Scroll down to program number 21. |
| Works with Horn by Female Composers An excellent resource by Lin Foulk. | |
The Horn List at Yahoo! Groups This horn list is intended as a forum for the exchange of information and opinions related to the horn and horn performance. It is a meeting point where all hornists - professionals, students, and amateurs alike - can trade ideas in a congenial, constructive atmosphere, governed by the rules of mutual respect and common courtesy. Over 1000 members.
"The Hornlist" The purpose of the Horn Discussion Group is to provide a forum for electronic conversation about all things relating to the horn's playing technique, repertoire, ensembles, personalities, and so on. Sending a message to the list causes it to be distributed automatically to a subscribing membership of about 900 people worldwide. So questions get lots of answers, and issues get lots of responses. Like hornists themselves, the list is usually full of friendly banter and helpfulness with the occasional curmudgeon. All are welcome.
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Performance Job Listings
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Jobline
A listing of horn related employment opportunities, primarily academic. To post a job opening announcement contact Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..
Assistantships
Assistantships, fellowships and other financial aid opportunities for student hornists. To post an announcement contact Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..
IHS Forum
Join fellow horn players in a broad ranging forum. Only Only IHS members are allowed to post. The forum includes an"Ask the Pros" section with a different correspondent every other month.
Links
Some of the best the web has to offer for horn players, including many national or regional horn related sites.
Horn Performance Jobs
- Última actualización: 21 Septiembre 2019 21 Septiembre 2019
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IHS Members are invited to submit information on any upcoming horn auditions not listed here.
Argentina
Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colon
French Horn Principal. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colon
French Horn Assistant. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colon
French Horn. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colon
French Horn - Soloist Assistant. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Armenia
Australia
Associate Principal Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 19. Audition date: Oct. 31.
Austria
koord. Solo-Horn Verpflichtung zu Diskanthorn + Wagnertuba. Application deadline: April 30. Audition date: Not listed.
Belgium
3./2. Horn (with obligation assistant 1st horn). Application deadline: Oct. 5. Audition date: Nov. 5.
Brazil
Bulgaria
Associate Principal French Horn. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Canada
Chile
China
French Horn Tutti. Application deadline: see notice. Audition date: see notice.
Horn, associate principal. Application deadline: May 31. Audition date: not listed.
Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Tutti French Horn IV. Application deadline: not lised. Audition date: not listed.
utti French Horn II & III. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
All Brass. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Kunming International Philharmonic.
French Horn (One-year contract). Application deadline: Not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Principal horn, 2nd horn. No dates given.
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Theatre Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra
Third French Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 10. Audition date: Oct. 3
Europe
Finland
France
Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée
1 COR CO-SOLISTE jouant 1er et 3ème. Application deadline: Sep. 16. Audition date: Oct. 7.
Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice
1 deuxième cor (2e catégorie) devant jouer le quatrième, sixième et huitième cor et le deuxième tube. Application deadline: Sep. 29. Audition date: Oct. 14.
Germany
Principal Horn. Application deadline: Mar. 12, 2020. Audition date: Apr. 23-24, 2020.
High Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 26. Audition date: Nov. 6-7
Low Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 4. Audition date: Oct. 17-18.
3./2. Horn mit Verpflichtung zur Wagnertube. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Solo-Horn. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Granada
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Section Leader French Horn. Application deadline: n/a Audition date: not listed.
Israel
Italy
Quarto corno, con obbligo del secondo e della fila - n. 1 posto. Application deadline: June 18. Audition date: not listed.
Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica J. Haydn di Bolzano e Trento
Concorso per 2°corno con obbligo del 4° e della fila. Application deadline: Nov. 3. Audition date: Nov. 27.
Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana
Ruoli in Orchestra. Application deadline: Oct. 31. Audition date: not listed.
Fondazione I Pomeriggi Musicali
Primo corno con obbligo del terzo e Secondo corno con obbligo del quarto. Application deadline: Sep. 12. Audition date: Sep. 23.
Secondo, quarto corno e seguenti con obbligo del terzo. Application deadline: Jun. 24. Audition date: not listed.
Japan
Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra
French Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 16. Audition date: see website.
Horn (Mainly 2nd). Application deadline: Aug. 31. Audition date: Oct. 7-8.
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Philharmonie et Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
Application deadline: Sep. 29. Audition date: Oct. 29.
Macao
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Het Gelders Orkest / The Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra
1st Horn (Part-time, One-year contract). Application deadline: Aug. 18. Audition date: Sep. 25.
New Zealand
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Co-Principal Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 28. Audition date: Nov. 16.
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Principal Third Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 15. Audition date: Oct. 29-30.
Horn. Ongoing auditions.
Norway
Palestine/Israel
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Russia
Scotland
Serbia
Slovakia
1. player in the group of French Horns. Application deadline: Oct. 15. Audition date: Oct. 23.
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Horn (2 positions). Application deadline: May 31. Audition date: not listed.
Consorcio de Santiago - Real Filharmonía de Galicia
(Apprenticeship/Academy position). Application deadline: Sep. 12. Audition date: Not listed.
Orquesta Sinfónica y Coro RTVE
Horn. Application deadline: May 24. Audition date: not listed.
Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi - Basque National Orchestra
Principal Horn Player. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife
Horn Soloist. Application deadline: Sep. 5. Audition date: not listed.
Sweden
Academy of Music and Drama, University of Gothenburg
Master of Fine Arts in Music with specialization in Symphonic Orchestra Performance (Apprenticeship/Academy position). Application deadline: Jan. 15. Audition date: not listed.
Principal French Horn. Application deadline: May 13. Audition date: not listed.
Switzerland
tiefes Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 1. Audition date: not listed.
3. Horn Stellenantritt nach Vereinbarung. Application deadline: Aug. 11. Audition date: Oct. 25.
Taiwan
Turkey
United Kingdom
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Principal Second Horn. Application deadline: July 6. Audition date: not listed.
Horn. Ongoing auditions.
Principal Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 15. Audition date: not listed.
Horn - ongoing auditions.
First Horn. Application deadline: Aug. 19. Audition date: Sep. 23.
Southbank Sinfonia 2020: Horn (Apprenticeship/Academy position). Application deadline: Jul. 1. Audition date: not listed.
Thursford Enterprises
Orchestral Brass Players. Application deadline: May 24. Audition date: not listed.
USA
Principal Horn. Application deadline: June 1. Audition date: Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
Civic Orchestra Regular and Associate Membership (Horn) (Apprenticeship/Academy position). Application deadline: Sep. 13. Audition date: not listed.
Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra
Horn 3 (local audition only). Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: Oct. 25.
Principal Horn (One-year contract). Application deadline: Sep. 1. Audition date: Sep. 30.
Second Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 13. Audition date: Oct. 13-16.
Principal Horn. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Horn. Application deadline: ongoing. Audition date: ongoing.
Assistant/Utility Horn. Application deadline: June 15. Audition date: Prelim - Sept. 8, 9, 23; Final - Sept. 24
US Marine Corps Musician Enlistment
Horn. Ongoing auditions. For further information please contact Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Bley at 757-613-8215. Or by e-mail at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.
United States Naval Academy Band - French Horn. Application deadline: Nov. 11. Audition date: Nov. 18.
U.S. Navy Fleet Bands Open-call Horn Audition (two vacancies). Application Deadline: Dec. 2. Audition date: Dec. 14.