Meet Our Guest Artists

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(information is subject to change)

Jeff Agrell, Associate Professor of Horn, University of Iowa

Jeffrey Agrell has been horn professor at The University of Iowa School of Music since 2000 after a first career as professional symphony musician. He has won awards as both a composer and writer, with dozens of published compositions, over one hundred articles, as well as two books on horn: Horn Technique (447 p.) and The Creative Hornist (228 p.) He has also authored nine books on nonjazz improvisation, including Improvisation Games for Classical Musicians Vol. I (2008) & Vol. II (2016; both GIA). Besides standard horn repertoire and technique, he also teaches (nonjazz) Improvisation for Classical Musicians and frequently gives lectures, concerts, and workshops in this type of improvisation nationally and internationally.

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Katy Ambrose, Assistant Professor of Horn, University of Virginia

Dr. Katy Ambrose is Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Virginia. She holds positions of principal horn of the Charlottesville Symphony, fourth horn of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and principal horn of the New Orchestra of Washington, and she plays regularly with the Richmond Symphony and Virginia Symphony Orchestras. Ambrose has created and cultivated several chamber ensembles, including co-founding Seraph Brass, Izula Horns and the natural horn quartet Conica. She served as founding Operations Coordinator for the Boulanger Initiative, an organization working toward greater inclusivity in music through performance, education, and commissions, by womxn composers. Dr. Ambrose’s research analyzes the role that the horn has played in the lives of musicians of African and Creole descent in America, and looks at how the horn was utilized in the lives of enslaved persons; the role it played in the advent of the Black brass band tradition during and after the War of 1812; its use in minstrel bands and offshoots during the Postbellum period; and accounts of jazz horn players and racist audition practices of the 20th century.

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Annie Bosler, Author, Free-lance Horn, Teacher

Dr. Annie Bosler wears many hats in her career as a Los Angeles freelance horn player. She has toured with John Williams' Star Wars in Concert and Josh Groban performing on Dancing with the Stars and PBS's Live from Lincoln Center. Annie shared the stage with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney on CBS's The Beatles: The Night That Changed America. She has performed with Ariana Grande and Chance the Rapper at The Grammy’s and P-Diddy at The American Music Awards. Annie can be heard on many motion pictures, video games, theme park rides, and TV shows as well as seen playing horn on Fox's TV show Glee. Named a TED Educator in 2017, Dr. Bosler co-wrote How to practice…for just about anything, receiving over 34 million views on social media. She co-authored College Prep for Musicians™ and produced/directed the documentary film 1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years. Annie is also professor of horn at California State University, Northridge. Please visit: anniebosler.com, 1M1hollywoodhorns.com, and collegeprepformusicians.com.

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Larry Clark, composer and owner, Excelcia Music Publishing

Music by Larry Clark is some of the most popular and most performed by concert bands and string orchestras of all ability levels. Larry is equally adept at writing music for beginners as he is for high school and college ensembles. His music is tuneful, contains a fresh harmonic perspective, is well scored and stretches the musicianship of the performers. He is an ASCAP award-winning composer, has over 300 publications in print and is in demand to write commissions for bands and orchestras across the country. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Florida State University and Master’s Degrees in Conducting and Composition from James Madison University in Virginia.   

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Lanette Lopez Compton, Associate Professor of Horn, Oklahoma State University

Lanette Compton is the Associate Professor of Horn at Oklahoma State University where she has been since 2005.  She is presently a member of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and the Tulsa Opera Orchestra and has performed with groups in Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Argentina. Lanette is the 2014 recipient of the Wise-Diggs-Berry Award for Teaching Excellence in the Arts. Students in the OSU Horn Studio have placed in regional and international competitions and have made several summer music festivals.  Graduates of Lanette’s studio have won professional orchestral positions throughout the United States including the Philadelphia Orchestra and Rochester Philharmonic.

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Randy Gardner, Emeritus Professor of Horn, University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory

Randy C. Gardner is an Artist-In-Residence at Temple University, Professor Emeritus from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and former Second Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra.  Randy Gardner is the author of two acclaimed books, Mastering the Horn’s Low Register and Good Vibrations: Masterclasses for Brass Players, and he regularly presents Modular Music Masterclasses.  Randy is also an enthusiastic Advisory Council member of the International Horn Society and Board member of Kendall Betts Horn Camp.  More information on publications and masterclasses is available at randygardnerhorn.com.

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Matt Haislip, Assistant Professor of Horn, Mississippi State University​

Matthew C. Haislip is a hornist, teacher, and composer currently serving as Assistant Professor of Horn at Mississippi State University. He is a founding member of Quintasonic Brass and has performed with such ensembles as the Cincinnati Opera, Opera Naples, and Omaha Symphony. His recent publication Dueling Fundamentals for Two Horns is published by Mountain Peak Music. Dr. Haislip holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, and Texas A&M University-Commerce. His website may be found at www.matthaislip.com.

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Doug Hill, Emeritus Professor of Horn, University of Wisconsin

Douglas Hill is Emeritus Professor of Horn at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1974-2011), an Emily Mead Baldwin-Bascom Professor in the Creative Arts (1999), the recipient of the 2009 Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award, and a Past President and Honorary Member of the International Horn Society. He played first horn with the Rochester Philharmonic, and for 30 years with the Madison Symphony. Hill has recorded extensively with the Wingra Woodwind Quintet and the Wisconsin Brass Quintet. Recognized in Michael Meckna's book 20th Century Brass Soloists, Hill has toured extensively and soloed at numerous international brass and horn symposia.

Hill's many publications include Collected Thoughts on Teaching and Learning, Creativity, and Horn Performance (2001), Extended Techniques for the Horn (1981/1996), scores of original compositions and pedagogical texts*, the DVD; Hill on Horn, and three solo recordings. Professor Hill has served on the faculties of Oberlin Conservatory, Aspen Music School, the Conservatories in Beijing and Shanghai, for the Asian Youth Orchestra, Sarasota Music Festival, Yale Summer School, and as an adjudicator for the NFAA, the Fischoff (three times), and Coleman (twice) Chamber Music Competitions, and the Toulon International Solo Horn Competition.

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Karen Houghton, author, "Recipe for Success"

Karen Houghton is a part owner of Houghton horn and has maintained a large successful private studio for forty years. As an educational consultant for Houghton Horns, Karen is a in demand as a horn pedagogue and is a co-author for “Recipe For Success: A balanced curriculum for young horn players.” Along with freelancing in the DFW

area, Karen has held horn positions in orchestras in the United States, Colombia and Germany. Karen holds a degree in Horn Performance from California State University, Long Beach. Her teachers and mentors include: Ed Jackson, Fred Fox, James Decker, Philip Farkas, Michael Hoeltzel and William Scharnberg.

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Mark Houghton, Third Horn, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Mark Houghton has been a member of the internationally acclaimed, Grammy Award winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since 2014. Previously, he held principal horn posts in the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Mark is a past prizewinner of national solo horn competitions, and has appeared as a guest artist or soloist with many notable orchestras and music festivals. Mr. Houghton earned a Bachelor’s degree with a Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music as a student of W. Peter Kurau. Further training included professional studies with William VerMeulen. A passionate educator, Mark has presented numerous clinics and masterclasses across the nation, and currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Horn at Duquesne University. As an owner of Houghton Horns, Mark is primarily involved in artistic ambassadorship, product research and development, social media, events, and strategic planning. 

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Janet Nye, author, "Recipe for Success"

Janet B. Nye has been teaching and playing horn professionally in many regional symphonies for over twenty years in the DFW area. For seven summers, she toured Germany with Eurobrass. As an educational consultant with Houghton Horns, Janet is in demand as a clinician and is a co-author of “Recipe For Success: A balanced curriculum for young horn players.” She received her B.M.E from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and her M.M. in Horn Performance from Baylor University. Her teaching and playing has been strongly influenced by Koleta Tilson, Steven Gross, Michael Hatfield, Margaret Robinson, Gregory Hustis, and Haley Hoops.

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Mica Redden, Associate Instructor of Horn, Indiana University: Jacobs School of Music

Mica is currently serving as the Associate Instructor of Horn at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where they are completing their Doctor of Music degree. Mica is a substitute with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and performs frequently with the Indianapolis Opera, Evansville Philharmonic and Owensboro Symphony. They are also a member of the horn quartet RÜM and a founding member of the Horn and Steel Drum sensation, Julia's Child. Formerly, Mica held the position of Fourth Horn with the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra in Guadalajara, Mexico. Favorite performances include those with The Who, The Beach Boys, Weird Al Yankovich, and Mexican pop sensation, Gloria Trevi. Mica received their Bachelor of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and their Master of Music degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Their primary teachers include Dale Clevenger, Jeffrey Nelsen, and Dr. Patrick Smith.

J.D. Shaw, Associate Professor of Horn, University of South Carolina

J.D. Shaw is Associate Professor of Horn at University of South Carolina and was formerly the French hornist with the internationally acclaimed Boston Brass where he was creative director, music arranger and co-owner of the ensemble. JD is an active solo artist and travels extensively throughout the United States as well as many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. In addition, J.D. has also been a featured performer on National Public Radio's Performance Today and the CBS Morning Show.

J.D. received his Masters of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music where he was awarded the Performer's Certificate under the tutelage of horn pedagogue Verne Reynolds. Hailing from Hutchinson, Kansas, he earned his degree of Bachelors of Music at the Wichita State University studying with Dr. Nicholas E. Smith. Other influential teachers include Roland Berger, David Krehbiel, Peter Kurau, and Philip Myers. Orchestral credits include associations with the Rochester Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Missouri Symphony, and the Boston Pops. Prior to his position at University of South Carolina, Professor Shaw has held teaching posts at Boston College, University of New Mexico and University of Miami. As an active performer and prolific arranger, J.D. has recorded over 15 albums encompassing diverse musical styles from the Classical, Jazz, and Latin genres. Such record labels include Loft Recordings, Mark Records, and Summit Records. His Latest album entitled "Tales of Imagination" features Professor Shaw showcasing new music for solo horn and wind band. This album, released on the Summit Records recording label is conducted by former CBDNA President Eric Rombach-Kendall and performed by the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony. As a prolific arranger, Professor Shaw writes music for many orchestras, bands, and chamber ensembles. His arrangements are featured with several publishers and can be heard on many recording labels and performance stages across the world. Currently, he is the music caption head and arranger for the Phantom Regiment. J.D. Shaw is dedicated to promoting music education for young, aspiring musicians. While teaching technical and musical achievement, J.D. strives to endow students with the wisdom to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit through the studies of finance, marketing, program development, salesmanship, internet skills, and effective interpersonal communication. With the help of Conn-Selmer, Jupiter Music, National M.E.N.C., and VH1's Save the Music foundation, he has taught master classes for young artists across the world spanning age-ranges from elementary to college. Also, J.D. has presented and performed clinics and workshops for music educators at events such as the Mid-Europe Music Educators Convention, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles convention, National Musical Educators National Conference, and The Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic.

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Lucy Smith, Freelance Horn and Doctoral Candidate, Temple University

Lucy Smith is a British horn player based in Philadelphia, where she is pursuing her DMA at Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University. She completed her Masters of Music at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, and holds a Bachelors of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music, UK. Lucy has won competitions for her horn playing in both the US and the UK, and currently enjoys a successful freelance career in the Philadelphia area. Lucy is a founding member of 5KBrass, a Cincinnati based brass quintet focused on commissioning and recording new works. The group is currently collaborating with the Millennium Composers Initiative on eight new commissions all inspired by social justice causes, with hopes of premiering these works in 2021.

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Jeff Snedeker, Professor of Horn, University of Central WashingtonJeffrey Snedeker has taught horn and music history at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, since 1991.  Jeff is a Past President of the International Horn Society, and has received several awards for teaching, research, and service, including the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame and the IHS Service Medal of Honor.  Jeff has been a featured artist, clinician, lecturer, and host of regional, national, and international conferences on six continents, and is recognized as a leading performer and scholar of the horn, especially solo repertoire, jazz, and historical performance.  Jeff has been Principal Horn of the Yakima (WA) Symphony Orchestra since 1992.

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Leander Geoffrey Star, Horn, City of Tomorrow; Instructor of Horn, University of Mississippi

Leander Star is the horn player with the award-winning wind quintet City of Tomorrow as well as the Tuben ensemble, LGBTQI+. He is tenured fourth horn with the Oregon Ballet Theater and the Portland Opera Orchestras and an active freelancer in the Midsouth, playing regularly with the IRIS and PRIZM Chamber Orchestras, the Memphis and Arkansas Symphony Orchestras, as well as in recording sessions in Nashville, TN.  In 2019, Star gave the world premiere performance of Northlands II by Matthew Whittall in a performance with the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra that also included Mozart's Horn Concerto K.447. Star teaches horn at the University of Mississippi at Oxford and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Leelanee Sterrett, Acting Associate Principal Horn, New York Philharmonic

Leelanee Sterrett is currently the Acting Associate Principal Horn of the New York Philharmonic. In recent seasons, Ms. Sterrett has made solo appearances at Carnegie Hall, with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and at the 2015 and 2018 International Horn Symposia. She serves on the horn faculties of New York University and Rutgers University. A northern-Michigan native, Ms. Sterrett grew up in a musically enthusiastic family and attended Interlochen Arts Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master’s degree from the Yale School of Music. Her primary teachers include William Purvis, Douglas Hill, and Julie Schleif.

Tom Varner, Associate Professor of Jazz Performance, Cornish College
Associate Professor of Music, Cornish College of the Arts, B.M., New England Conservatory of Music, M.A., The City College of New York: Tom Varner is internationally known as one of the top living pioneers of jazz and improvised music on the French horn and as an inventive and passionate composer for his different ensembles, which have featured such players as Steve Wilson, Tony Malaby, Lee Konitz, Mark Feldman, Kenny Barron, Billy Hart, and Matt Wilson. Tom’s recent nonet recording Nine Surprises was released in 2014. Tom has been awarded grants from the NEA, Doris Duke Foundation/Chamber Music America, and the Jack Straw Center. He has 14 recordings as a leader and plays on over 70 others, such as with Steve Lacy and John Zorn. Tom has just been awarded a lifetime honorary membership to the IHS, as of August 2020.

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