Horn Day open to anyone who wants to learn more about the horn

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Horn Day, an annual festival at Western Michigan University open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the horn, will take place beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, concluding with a final concert at 6:30 p.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. All Horn Day events take place in the Dalton Center.

The event offers an entire day of horn activities, including a master class and recital by guest artist Aaron Brant, principal hornist with the Dayton Philharmonic and instructor at the University of Dayton, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Wright State University.

The festival also includes a solo competition for middle and high school participants, a recital by the WMU Horn Choir and WMU student soloists, and a chance for all participants to play in chamber ensembles and the Mass Horn Choir, which rehearses during the day and performs in the final concert.

The registration fee of $20 per participant includes food and helps sponsor the featured artist. Family members of participants may observe any part of the day free of charge. The final concert is free and open to the public.

Brant

As an orchestral musician, Brant serves as principal hornist with the Dayton Philharmonic where he has been featured as a concerto soloist, as well as performs with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra as principal horn. During the summer, Brant is an artist-in-residence as a member of the Spectrum Brass and Faculty Wind Quintet at the Bay View Music Festival. At the festival he teaches and coaches advanced conservatory students and graduates from across the country on the art of chamber music.

As an educator, Brant teaches horn at the University of Dayton, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Wright State University. He is also a member of the Dayton Philharmonic Educational Brass Quintet, also called the Carillon Brass, and teaches SPARK lessons in select third- and fourth-grade classrooms. SPARK is a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra educational program that teaches State of Ohio common core curriculum using musical vehicles.

Before moving to Dayton, Brant was the principal horn of the South Bend Symphony for four seasons. In South Bend he made his solo debut in 2009, performing Richard Strauss's Horn Concerto No. 1. Brant also spent four seasons as third horn of the Ann Arbor Symphony, frequently filling in as principal horn. He is a regular substitute with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and has also performed extensively with the Grand Rapids Symphony. In addition to orchestral work spread over eight states, Brant has performed with a wide range crossover, jazz and pop artists like Josh Groban, Diana Krall, Mannheim Steamroller and Andrea Bocelli.

For more information about the concert or Horn Day at WMU, visit wmich.edu/horn/horn-day.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.