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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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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Horn Performance Jobs
- Last Updated: 24 May 2023 24 May 2023
Compiled by James Boldin
IHS Members are invited to submit information on any upcoming horn auditions not listed here.
Albania
Albanian National Theater Of Opera, Ballet and Folk Ensemble
Principal French Horn. Application deadline: Jun. 19, 2023. Audition date: Jun. 25, 2023.
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Section Horn. Application deadline: May 18, 2023. June 19-20.
Section Principal Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 25, 2023. Audition date: Nov. 3, 2023.
Royal Australian Air Force Band
Royal Australian Air Force Band French Horn Vacancy - Expression of Interest. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
2024 Fellowship: French Horn (apprenticeship / academy position). Application deadline: May 5, 2023. Audition date: June 5, 2023.
Austria
Horn | Grafenegg Academy Orchestra (apprenticeship / academy position). Application deadline: Jan. 15, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
State opera - Plovdiv
Principal French Horn. Application deadline: July 1, 2023. Audition date: June 19 and July 6, 2023.
French horn. Application deadline: Dec. 12, 2022. Audition date: not listed.
French Horn, Permanent Position. Application deadline: May 19, 2024. Audition date: not listed.
Canada
Chile
China
The Chamber Philharmonia ZJCM (Zhejiang conservatory of Music)
Horn（Principal). Application deadline: Jun. 1, 2023. Audition date: Audition date: not listed.
Wuxi Symphony Orchestra
French Horn - Principal, Associate Principal, Tutti. Application deadline: June 10, 2023. Audition date: June 26-30, 2023.
Xi'an Symphony Orchestra
Horn. Send resume and performance videos to xso@xianch.com
Colombia
Croatia
Croatian National Theatre ' Ivan pl. Zajc' Rijeka
Application deadline: April 2, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Národní divadlo Brno
Audition to the opera orchestra for the position of III. horn with the duty of I. horn. Application deadline: June 26, 2023. Audition date: June 30, 2023.
Denmark
DR Symfoniorkestret / Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Associate Principal Horn. Application deadline: April 27, 2023. Audition date: June 6, 7, 8, 2023.
Ecuador
Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Ecuador
Principal Horn. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Egypt
Estonia
Europe
Finland
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Solo Horn Player. Application deadline: Sep. 6, 2023. Audition date: Oct. 19-20, 2023.
4th Horn. Application deadline: April 30, 2023. Audition date: May 31, 2023.
France
Horn. Application deadline: May 12, 2023. Audition date: June 1-2, 2023.
cor solo - solo horn. Application deadline: June 10, 2023. Audition date: June 19, 2023.
Orchestre Région Centre Val de Loire
Cor Solo (part-time). Application deadline: Jan. 30, 2023 Audition date: not listed.
Germany
Orchesterakademie des hr-Sinfonieorchesters Stipendiat*in Horn (Apprenticeship/Academy position). Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Solo Horn. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Low Horn. Application deadline: May 18, 2023. Audition date: June 22, 2023.
Granada
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) – Section Leader French Horn. Application deadline: Mar. 8, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Israel
Italy
Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana
Primo Corno con obbligo del terzo, della Tuba wagneriana e di tutti gli strumenti speciali. Application deadline: Feb.7, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Corno di fila con obbligo della Tuba wagneriana e di tutti gli strumenti speciali. Application deadline: Feb.7, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Principal Horn with 3rd Horn obligation (n. 1). Application deadline: Feb. 28, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Principal Horn. Application deadline: April 30, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice
professori d'orchestra - French Horn. Application deadline: Mar. 15, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
La Fondazione Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Primo Corno con obbligo del Terzo. Application deadline: June 18, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Japan
Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra
French Horn. Application deadline: Jan. 13, 2022. Audition date: not listed.
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Horn. Ongoing auditions.
Norway
Co-Principal horn. Application deadline: April 21, 2023. Audition date: June 2, 2023.
Application deadline: June 4, 2023. Audition date: Sep. 2-3, 2023.
Palestine/Israel
Poland
FRENCH HORN – high horn (first, third and assistant, FULL TIME). Application deadline: June 4, 2023. Audition date: June 21-22, 2023.
Portugal
Qatar
Russia
Scotland
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya
Trompa tutti (1) – Permanent. Application deadline: Jan. 12, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Trompa Principal. Application deadline: Dec. 5, 2022. Audition date: not listed.
Sweden
Alternating principal French horn. Application deadline: April 30, 2023. Audition date: June 27-28, 2023.
Musiker valthorn till Marinens musikkår. Application deadline: June 5, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Switzerland
Taiwan
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
French Horn. Application deadline: Jun 1, 2023. Audition date: Not listed.
United Kingdom
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Sub-Principal French Horn No.4. Application deadline: May 26, 2023. Audition date: May 26, 2023.
Section Principal Horn. Application deadline: Jun. 11, 2023. Audition date: Sep. 25, 2023.
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Principal Horn (Section Leader). Application deadline: May 1, 2023. Audition date: late June, early July 2023.
Horn. Ongoing auditions.
Section Principal Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 24, 2022. Audition date: not listed.
Horn - ongoing auditions.
Horn apprenticeship / academy position). Application deadline: Jan. 6, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Principal Horn No.2. Application deadline: Feb. 6, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
USA
Artis-Naples, Naples Philharmonic
Principal Horn (one year may become permanent). Application deadline: Mar. 31, 2023. Audition date: May 26-28, 2023.
Third Horn (one-year). Application deadline: May 19, 2023. Audition date: June 12, 2023.
Horn 3 (per service). Application deadline: Mar. 15, 2023. Audition date: July 10-11, 2023.
African-American Fellowship. Application deadline: March 31, 2022. Audition date: not listed.
Associate Principal Horn. Application deadline: Jun. 21, 2023. Audition date: not listed.
Associate Principal Horn. Application deadline: Mar. 15, 2023. Audition date: May 30, June 1-2, 2023.
Principal Horn (per service). Application deadline: June 8, 2023. Audition date: June 21-22, 2023.
(apprenticeship/academy position). Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Second Horn. Application deadline: April 21, 2023. Audition date: June 11-13, 2023.
"The President's Own" United States Marine Band
Horn. Application deadline: June 8, 2023. Audition date: June 12-13, 2023.
Principal Horn. Application deadline: Mar. 13, 2023. Audition date: June 19, July 2-3, 2023.
Horn. Application deadline: ongoing. Audition date: ongoing.
Horn. Application deadline: July 10, 2023. Audition date: August 21-23, 2023.
Regional French Horn Player. Application deadline: Aug. 18, 2023. Audition date: Sep. 22, 2023.
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 Jonathan.bley@marines.usmc.mil
U.S. Navy Fleet Bands French Horn Instrumentalist. Application deadline: Jul. 11, 2023. Audition date: by appointment.
Second Horn. Application deadline: June 5, 2023. Audition date: Sep. 18, 2023.
Vietnam
Network
Marketplace
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Member News
IHS news, as well as news items from the horn world submitted by IHS members.
Horn Event Calendar
Add your concert, clinic or workshop to the horn events calendar. Only IHS members are allowed to post.
Performance Job Listings
Compiled and updated quarterly by Jeffrey Agrell
Jobline
A listing of horn related employment opportunities, primarily academic. To post a job opening announcement contact manager@hornsociety.org.
Assistantships
Assistantships, fellowships and other financial aid opportunities for student hornists. To post an announcement contact manager@hornsociety.org.
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.