by Vidhurinda Samaraweera
For horn players worldwide, "Hornissimo" is a name synonymous with excellence. This prestigious festival—dedicated to teaching, knowledge-sharing, and empowering horn players across all skill levels—recently marked a historic milestone with its first-ever participant from South Asia.
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| Hornissimo Ensemble in rehearsal |
A Festival Born of Passion
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| Hornissimo founder Peter Arnold |
The Hornissimo Festival is the brainchild of Professor Peter Arnold, a distinguished German horn player and educator whose contributions to the instrument have earned international acclaim. What began modestly in 1998 in Glottertal, Germany, with just 25 participants has evolved into a cornerstone event for the global horn community. Since relocating to Staufen in 2003, the festival has grown exponentially, now attracting over 100 participants annually from across the globe.
The 2025 edition, held from June 19-22, showcased this international appeal with representatives from over ten countries, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Ukraine. This year's festival was particularly significant as it welcomed its first participant from the South Asian region—a moment that could reshape opportunities for horn players across the subcontinent.
World-Class Faculty and Industry Support
Hornissimo provides an exceptional combination of renowned faculty, innovative programs, and industry support. The 2025 faculty featured a stellar line-up including Christoph Eß (Director), Peter Arnold, Christian Lampert, Samuel Seidenberg, Will Sanders, Saar Berger, Dariusz Mikulski, Philip Römer, and Martin Grom, each bringing decades of performance and expertise to the table.
Leading instrument manufacturers and dealers, including but not limited to, Gebr. Alexander, Hans Hoyer, Ricco Kühn, Juhász Zoltán, Dotzauer, Josef Klier, and Durk Horns supported the festival. On-site sales and marketing proved to be a useful method for creating invaluable networking opportunities between participants and industry professionals.
Immersive Learning Experience
The festival's unique structure allowed each attendee to participate in horn ensembles conducted by various faculty members in addition to receiving individual lessons. The state-of-the-art facilities of the Bund Deutscher Blasmusikverbände (BDB, the Association of German Brass Bands) provided an ideal setting for this intensive learning experience, with accommodation and meals provided for participants.
Competition and Performance Opportunities
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| Competition winner Hanna Arnold |
The festival opened with the finals of the Hornissimo competition, featuring finalists of three age categories: horn4kids, born4horn, and horn4pros. This year's festival concert on June 20 in Bad Krozingen showcased emerging talent, with 20-year-old Hanna Arnold claiming first prize in the horn4pros category. Eloy Tamo and Oskar Szathmáry secured second and third places, respectively. The celebration continued with final concerts on June 21 and 22 at the BDB Musikacademie where competition winners and participants shared the stage.
Cultural Bridging and Future Implications
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| Vidhurinda Samaraweera |
The attendance of South Asia's first Hornissimo participant represents more than a personal achievement; it signals potential transformation for the region's horn community. This breakthrough, supported by Professor Peter Arnold's encouragement and a full scholarship offered by Gebr. Alexander, addresses a critical gap in formal horn education across South Asia. The connections forged at Hornissimo 2025 could catalyze improved playing conditions, higher performance standards, and expanded educational opportunities across South Asia.
Hornissimo remains not just a festival, but a gateway to excellence—one that now extends its reach to new corners of the world, promising a more inclusive and diverse future for players of our noble instrument.
