About
Horn studio class is offered throughout the year where students perform for each other and discuss various horn topics. The Western Horn Choir, which consists mostly of horn majors, performs a full concert on campus during the fall semester and performs as opportunities arise in the spring. The ensemble was invited to perform at the International Horn Symposium in Memphis, Tennessee in 2013 (memorialized on the Graceland wall—see image below) and at the International Horn Symposium in Denver, Colorado in 2008. Horn students have the opportunity to study historical and auxiliary instruments--two hand horns, an alphorn, a Wagner Tuba, a descant horn, and a triple horn may be checked out for study.
WMU has recently hosted numerous horn guest artists who are members of professional ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra, U.S. Marine Band “President’s Own,” Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Detroit Symphony; institutions such as University of Wisconsin–Madison, Indiana University, University of Illinois, and Arizona State University; and countries such as Russia, Sweden, and Luxembourg.WMU has recently hosted numerous horn guest artists who are members of professional ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra, U.S. Marine Band “President’s Own,” Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Detroit Symphony; institutions such as University of Wisconsin–Madison, Indiana University, University of Illinois, and Arizona State University; and countries such as Russia, Sweden, and Luxembourg.
The large ensembles, such as the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Symphonic Band are first-rate and many undergraduates have the opportunity to perform alongside graduate students in the top ensembles. Other ensembles combine select students with faculty members, including Western Winds and the Annual Brass Christmas Concert. Chamber music is prevalent and several wind quintet and brass quintet ensembles form among the students each year, frequently receiving faculty guidance. The Western Brass Quintet and Western Wind Quintet are the two faculty ensembles, performing often on campus and serving as models for student chamber ensembles.
The music facilities are terrific, with excellent performance, practice, library, and computer facilities. Its distinctive spaces include two recital halls, a 10,000 square foot music library, a music therapy clinic, and one of the world's largest installations of pre-fabricated, sound-isolated practice rooms and teaching studios.
Kalamazoo is located in the center of the Midwestern musical scene, making it an inspirational and ideal place to study music. Prominent professional groups and events in the region include the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, and Fontana Chamber Arts Series. Kalamazoo is midway between Chicago and Detroit (2.5 hour drive to either city).
The horn studio is located in room 1406 in the Dalton Center. Directions to Dalton Center. Please note that Kalamazoo, Michigan is in the Eastern Time Zone.
