Performance
Education
Michigan State University
Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Performance
January 2020 - December 2022
Michigan State University
Master Of Music in Music Performance.
September 2016-May 2018
Western Michigan University
September 2011-May 2016
Bachelor of Music in K-12 Instrumental Music Education.
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance Performance - Horn.
Primary Horn Instructors
Corbin Wagner
September 2016-May 2018,
January 2020 - December 2022
Current Associate Professor of Horn at Michigan State University.
Retired Third Horn of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (38 Years).
Dr. Lin (Foulk) Baird
Current Professor of Horn at Western Michigan University.
September 2011-May 2016
Aaron Brant
November 2009 - June 2011
Former Principal Horn of the Dayton Philharmonic and Adjunct Horn Professor at the University of Dayton, Ohio.
Selected Large Ensemble Experience
Midland Symphony Orchestra
Fourth Horn
October 2018 - Present
Traverse Symphony Orchestra
Substitute Horn
October 2018 - Present
Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra
Substitute Horn
May 2018 - Present
Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Substitute Horn
April 2018 - Present
West Michigan Symphony Orchestra
Substitute Horn
April 2018 - Present
Jackson Symphony Orchestra
Substitute Horn
November 2017 - Present
Michigan State University Wind Symphony
University Ensemble - Rotating Horn Position
September 2016 - May 2017,
January 2020 - May 2022
Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra
University Ensemble - Rotating Horn Position
September 2016 - May 2018
Michigan State University Opera
University Ensemble - Principal Horn
September 2016-May 2017
Kalamazoo Philharmoia
Community Ensemble - Principal Horn and Second Horn
2015-2016
Western Michigan University Symphony Orchestra
University Ensemble - Rotating Horn Position
2013 - 2015
Western Michigan University Symphonic Band
University Ensemble - Rotating Horn Position
September 2012-December 2013
Western Michigan University Concert Band
University Ensemble - Principal Horn
September 2011 - May 2012
Selected Chamber Ensemble Experience
Il Vollo Summer Tour
Substitute horn for the Il Vollo tour in Cleveland, Ohio
August 2022
Josh Groban Summer 2022 Tour
Substitute horn for the Josh Groban tour at the Pine Knob Theater.
June 2022
Michigan State University Musique 21
University Ensemble featuring new, modern music.
April 2018 - May 2018
October 2020
Michigan State University Graduate Brass Trio
Ensemble Member. Ensemble featured Anthony Plog's Brass Trio.
September 2017 - December 2017
Michigan State University Graduate Horn Quartet
Section Member. Program featured women composers and was performed at the Michigan State University Planetarium.
January 2017 - April 2017
Michigan State University Chamber Wind Ensemble
Ensemble Member. Prepared chamber winds music for conducting students and recital music.
January 2017 - December 2017
Western Michigan University Graduate Horn Quartet
Section Member. Competed at the International Horn Symposium in Los Angeles, CA. Program featured Anthony Plog's Horn Quartet.
November 2014 - August 2015
Western Michigan University Western Winds Ensemble
Section Member. Faculty and Student Combined Ensemble.
January 2013 - May 2015
Western Michigan University Scholarship Freshmen Wind Quintet
Section Member.
September 2012 - April 2013
Selected Solo Experience
DMA Lecture Recital
December 2022
"Four Elements for Horn and Piano" By Ann Callaway: Promoting modern recital repertoire and utilizing extended techniques.
DMA Recital 3
Featuring Ruth Gipps' Horn Concerto
November 2021
DMA Recital 2
An audition demonstration featuring excerpts from the Dallas Symphony's 2019 Principal Horn Audition.
December 2020
DMA Recital 1
Featuring Rheinhold Gliere's Concerto for Horn in B-flat.
February 2020
Featured Soloist
Grand Ledge High School Private Lessons Recital
May 2019
Master's Recital
Program featuring music based on books.
February 2018
Featured Soloist
Western Michigan University's Horn Day
February 2016, 2015
Senior Performance and Honors Recital
"Water" Program featuring music based on water.
March 2015
Junior Performance Recital
Joint Recital featuring music through all eras of horn repertoire.
April 2014
Featured Soloist
Western Michigan University's Lee Honors College Commencement Ceremony
April 2014
Selected Musical Pit Experience
The Little Mermaid
Hastings High School
March 2020
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Hastings High School
March 2018
Temple: A New Musical
Michigan State University Theatre Program
March 2017
Les Miserables
Unity Christian High School Alumni Association
June 2015
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Hackett Catholic High School
March 2014
The Man of La Mancha
Western Michigan University Gilmore Theatre
January 2014
Into The Woods
Cornerstone University
February 2011
Music Education
Classroom Experience
Grand Ledge Public Schools - Wacousta Elementary School
2018 - 2020
Sixth Grade Beginning Band Teacher.
Start beginning band students on their individual instruments. Provide specialized instruction on the techniques of every instrument in the band. Greet students at school for the zero hour band class. Lead students to prepare concert repertoire and conduct at the concerts. Communicate with parents about band details. Grade playing assessments and keep student practice journal records.
Western Michigan University
January 2019 - April 2019
Adjunct Professor of Horn teaching Aural Skills IV: Introduction to Classical Improvisation.
Filling in for the semester for a maternity leave. Lead the class in workshop and improvisation games. Lead class discussions and feedback for the games. Graded weekly reflection papers on readings, listening assignments, and practice sessions. Graded final individual and group projects.
"The purpose of Aural Skills IV is to produce a listener/performer who can perceive sound in meaningful patterns--to develop a hearing mind and a thinking ear. In this course, this is achieved through both listening to and performing musical improvisations in both structured and unstructured activities. The focus will be on improvising within styles and genres that are already familiar to the student. This provides the student with a foundation and starting point for improvisation, from which he/she may explore the rich and widely varied traditions of improvisation within jazz, new music, world, pop, and other contexts (learning how to improvisation within these specific contexts is beyond the aims of this course). This is the fourth in a 4-course sequence in aural skills." - Spring 2019 Course Syllabus
Gull Lake Middle School
January 2016 - May 2016
Intern Teacher for Michlele Chabitch, director of the Gull Lake Middle School Bands.
Assist in teaching beginning brass and woodwinds class, seventh grade band, eighth grade band, and eighth grade jazz band. Lead instrument groups in sectionals for individual attention. Lead and conduct the full class to study instrument technique and to prepare for concerts and band festival. Teach individual lessons to prepare for solo and ensemble festival. Write daily lesson plans for each individual class and connect the plans with learning outcomes and standards.
Private Teaching Experience
Hope College
September 2023 - Present
Adjunct Professor of Horn
Teaching applied horn lessons and a studio class to music performance majors, music education majors, music minors, and non-majors.
Grand Ledge Public Schools
September 2017 - Present
Horn Instructor - Private Lessons.
After school at the high school, students study individual work such as etudes, scales, audition material, and horn repertoire. Students participate in masterclasses, studio recitals, extra curricular performing ensembles, and district and state solo and ensemble. Lead students in after school horn ensemble.
Okemos Public Schools
June 2022-present
Horn Instructor - Private Lessons.
After school at the high school, students study individual work such as etudes, scales, audition material, and horn repertoire. Students participate in masterclasses, studio recitals, extra curricular performing ensembles, and district and state solo and ensemble.
Haslett Public Schools
October 2021-Present
Horn Instructor - Private Lessons.
After school at the high school, students study individual work such as etudes, scales, audition material, and horn repertoire. Students participate in masterclasses, studio recitals, extra curricular performing ensembles, and district and state solo and ensemble.
Mid-Michigan Area
September 2016 - Present
Horn Instructor.
Private horn lessons from my home office located in Lansing's Historic Westside Neighborhood.
Michigan State University Community Music School
Private horn instructor for students of all ages.
2021-Present
Olivet College
August 2018 - January 2022
Adjunct Professor of Horn.
Teach private horn lessons to horn performance majors, horn performance minors, and students at Olivet College who are interested in learning horn. Prepare students for semesterly juries by choosing repertoire and teaching scales and etudes. Write the course syllabus. Evaluate individual lessons for final grading and submit final grades.
Alma College
2019-2022
Adjunct Instructor of Horn.
Teach private horn lessons to horn performance majors, horn performance minors, and students at Alma College who are interested in learning horn. Prepare students for semesterly juries by choosing repertoire and teaching scales and etudes. Write the course syllabus. Evaluate individual lessons for final grading and submit final grades.
Hastings Public Schools
November 2017 - 2022
Horn Instructor - Group Lessons.
During the school day, pull students out of the full band rehearsal and into a group lesson. Group lessons focus on technique, etudes, and horn ensemble repertoire. Beginning students are taught to play by ear and all students focus on relating the instrument back to the harmonic series in order to make the best playing decisions in band. Instruction is focused on creative problem solving.
Kidder Northwest Community Schools
Private Horn Instructor.
January 2018 - June 2018
Battle Creek Community Music School
Private Horn Instructor.
November 2016 - August 2017
Selected Presentations
Portland Public Schools Horn Day
May 2019
"Buzzing; It's Not Just for Bees"
Techniques to increase your tone and flexibility on the horn. How to cross the ranges quickly and with a consistent tone.
Featuring Solo Performance of Lydia "Lowery" Busler's "Appalachia for Solo Horn".
Berkley Middle School Instrument Clinic
October 2018
"Making the Instrument Work for You"
Examining the harmonic series and how it creates our fingering patterns to demystify the chromatic scale.
Featuring Solo Performance of Lydia "Lowery" Busler's "Appalachia for Solo Horn"
Michigan State University: Master of Music Oral Defense
April 2018
"Teaching the Horn by Ear: Utilizing the Harmonic Series to Learn Horn Technique with Ear Training and Improvisation."
When working with beginning horn students, it is difficult make sure students start on the correct notes and continue playing the right notes even when on an individual part. Instead of learning to read first and how to change the student to the music on the page, learn how the instrument works and prepare the student with the knowledge of how to manipulate the instrument to what is on the page. Lesson high lights include, identifying the harmonic series, the fingering pattern, learning how to identify specific pitches by ear, how to choose the best fingering for a specific passage, improvising over the harmonic series, and playing simple tunes by ear.
Red Cedar Bands Festival
"Some Air and A Prayer"
Expanding your range.
March 2018
International Horn Symposium - Los Angeles, CA
"Music In The Moment"
Co-Lecturer with Dr. Lin (Foulk) Baird to introduce classical improvisation as an idea, a practice habit, and a bit of musical fun.
August 2015
Selected Interviews
Michigan State University College of Music Running Start Featured Alumni
April 2019
WMUK's Friday Fun with WMU's Horn Studio - Classical Improvisation
Western Michigan University Graduate Horn Quartet discusses Classical Improvisation and Performs selections from the International Horn Symposium's Horn Quartet Competition.
May 2015