Northwest Horn Symposium 2018
Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington
March 23 - 25, 2018
Host: Gina Gillie
Host: Gina Gillie
The Northwest Horn Symposium 2018, held at Pacific Lutheran University from March 23-25, was a resounding success with a record-breaking turnout of approximately 200 people. Participants came from Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Tennessee and British Columbia. Guest artists Leelanee Sterrett (NY Philharmonic), Bernhard Scully (formerly of the Canadian Brass), and the Seattle Symphony Horn Section (Jeff Fair, Mark Robbins, Jon Karschney, Jenna Breen, John Turman and Danielle Kuhlmann) inspired attendees with thoughtful presentations and stunning performances. Eleven vendors were represented, giving participants a fine range of horns, mouthpieces, mutes and music to peruse. Four regional artists gave presentations, six horn ensembles performed, two regional contributors led warm-up sessions, at least 18 performers were included on two different Regional Artists Concerts, and six horn quartets competed in the competition. Four scholarships were awarded this year and the winners of the quartet competition were the University of Oregon horn quartet.
On Friday, the SSO Horns presented a panel discussion with Pathways host, Adam Wolf, and gave a lecture-recital in the evening. Excerpts were paired with discussion on the first half of the recital, while the second half presented music ranging from Dauprat to Schuller to Gillie. A rousing encore of “Suddenly Seymour” had the audience laughing and cheering.
Leelanee’s presentation covered how studying with scores, listening to recordings and diligently marking up your parts can increase your success, and Bernhard presented thoughts on how theory, ear training, mental training, singing, buzzing, improvising and composing can increase musicianship. Master classes given by both artists featured a mix of high school and college students playing solos and excerpts. Bernhard’s Feature Concert included many standards for horn, but also added newer works by Paul Basler, Doug Hill, and Carolina Calvache. Leelanee’s Feature Concert highlighted the gender inequity that persists within “classical” programming and featured music by female composers, including Jean Vignery, Sheila Silver, Ruth Gipps, Kate Soper, and Gina Gillie.
Lectures by regional artists included topics of embouchure development and awareness, contemporary music for horn, focus and attention during practice, as well as 50 years of IHS symposia. Regional performers presented jazz, free improvisation, and a great assortment of new music by many local composers including Mike Simpson, Josiah Boothby, Andrew Lewinter, Ernest Richardson, Gina Gillie, and Anthony DiLorenzo. Approximately 50 horn players performed in the massed ensemble at the end of the symposium, directed by Martin King.
Thank you to all who contributed, performed and attended. This event would not have been nearly as successful and rewarding without you. Thank you as well to PLU and the PLU horn studio who served as ambassadors and gracious hosts. See you all in Missoula next year, March 29-31!
- Gina Gillie, 2018 Symposium Host
On Friday, the SSO Horns presented a panel discussion with Pathways host, Adam Wolf, and gave a lecture-recital in the evening. Excerpts were paired with discussion on the first half of the recital, while the second half presented music ranging from Dauprat to Schuller to Gillie. A rousing encore of “Suddenly Seymour” had the audience laughing and cheering.
Leelanee’s presentation covered how studying with scores, listening to recordings and diligently marking up your parts can increase your success, and Bernhard presented thoughts on how theory, ear training, mental training, singing, buzzing, improvising and composing can increase musicianship. Master classes given by both artists featured a mix of high school and college students playing solos and excerpts. Bernhard’s Feature Concert included many standards for horn, but also added newer works by Paul Basler, Doug Hill, and Carolina Calvache. Leelanee’s Feature Concert highlighted the gender inequity that persists within “classical” programming and featured music by female composers, including Jean Vignery, Sheila Silver, Ruth Gipps, Kate Soper, and Gina Gillie.
Lectures by regional artists included topics of embouchure development and awareness, contemporary music for horn, focus and attention during practice, as well as 50 years of IHS symposia. Regional performers presented jazz, free improvisation, and a great assortment of new music by many local composers including Mike Simpson, Josiah Boothby, Andrew Lewinter, Ernest Richardson, Gina Gillie, and Anthony DiLorenzo. Approximately 50 horn players performed in the massed ensemble at the end of the symposium, directed by Martin King.
Thank you to all who contributed, performed and attended. This event would not have been nearly as successful and rewarding without you. Thank you as well to PLU and the PLU horn studio who served as ambassadors and gracious hosts. See you all in Missoula next year, March 29-31!
- Gina Gillie, 2018 Symposium Host
The Seattle Symphony Orchestra horn section after their podcast with Adam Wolf.
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Former students of Doug Hill reunion.
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2018 NwHS Scholarship Winners.
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2018 Horn Quartet Competition winners - University of Oregon Horn Quartet.
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Final massed ensemble performance, led by Martin King.
| 2018 nwhs symposium program.pdf |