University of Iowa Horn Studio Alumni
We are always happy to have news of what horn studio alumni are up to - please send in your news anytime; also please send any additions or corrections to the information below. See also the Iowa Alumni Magazine
The University of Iowa horn studio has many well-known alumni. Past UI professors or alumni who were officers in the IHS include: Presidents: Paul Anderson, Randall Faust, James Winter, William Scharnberg, and Virginia Thompson; Vice-President: Kristin Thelander; Advisory Council: the aforementioned plus Jeffrey Agrell.
The following list represents some of the many horn alumni (+ UI horn teachers) who have or have had successful careers.
Paul Anderson - BA. MA - UI horn professor for 40 years (1948-1989). Principal of the Tri-City (now Quad City) Symphony for many years. Author of Index to Current Brass Literature (1976) and Brass Music Guide: Solo and Study Material in Print (1986). President of the International Horn Society 1980-1983, IHS Advisory Council 1977-1983, Honorary Member of the IHS. Obituary.
Richard Beck - DMA, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rogers State University. Former horn professor at Del Mar College and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Dennis Behm - BM, MFA - Professor of Horn Emeritus, The University of Southern Mississippi
Andrew Boysen - BM - Assistant Professor of music and conductor of the wind symphony at the University of New Hampshire; composer
Ethan Brozka - MA - Former member The Orchestra Now. Currently Trade Account Manager with Wayfair.
Ronda Chesney - BME - Former Fourth horn, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra; currently music education instructor at Missouri Western State University.
Patrick [Randall] Creel - DMA - horn instructor at Southwestern University, author of the Wind Band Audition Book for Horn Players (160 p.)
John Cryder [1945-2013] - BM, MA - Former member US Marine Band (President's Own). Former Horn Professor at James Madison University (27 years). Obituary.
Kristin Davidson - BM - Retired co-principal of the United States Marine Band ("The President's Own"). Before that she was a member of the New World Symphony. Her article on dystonia.
Komsun Dilokkunanant - DMA - Dean of Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music (Bangkok, Thailand)
Randall Faust - DMA - Professor Emeritus of Horn, Western Illinois University. Teaches summers at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Former president of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors and the International Horn Society. Recipient of the ASCAP Award and the Orpheus Award. Former principal of the Columbus (GA) Symphony Orchestra
Michael Fee - MA, MFA - Teacher at Clinton Community College. Former instructor of Horn, Augustana College. Former principal horn of the Quad City Symphony
Charlie Gavin - MA, DMA - Professor Emeritus - Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music; principal horn with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra.
William George [1936-2020] - MA, MFA, PhD - Former Professor of Horn and Musicology at San Jose State University. Obituary.
Katey Halbert - DMA - Visiting Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Arkansas
Jeremy Hansen - DMA - Professor of Horn, Tennessee Tech University
Troy Hascall - BM (MM - Yale University) 101st Airborne Division Band, Director of Training, Army School of Music, US Continental Army Band.
Joe Heitz - BM - Currently Executive Director, Cantus Vocal Ensemble. FormerlyAssociate Director, Foundation Relation at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts; Grant writer for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 4th horn, Boston Civic Orchestra; Fulbright Research Fellow in Slovenia (2007-09). MBA at the University of Cambridge.
Michael Helman - MA - Instructor of Horn, Idaho State University, Portneuf Brass Quintet, Ensemble Peripherie, Principal horn, Idaho State Civic Symphony
John Jay Hilfiger - PhD - (BS, MS, University of Rochester, MM Binghamton University, PhD Iowa). On the music faculty of Castleton State College in Vermont, industrious composer/arranger.
Marvin Howe (1918-1994) - MFA, PhD - Professor of Horn, Eastern Michigan University. IHS Advisory Council. Author of Method for Horn
Patrick Hughes - DMA - Professor of Horn, University of Texas-Austin
Tom Hundemer - MA - Principal horn, Shreveport Symphony. Lecturer in horn, Centenary College of Louisiana
Jim Irwin - BM & DMA (MM Indiana U) - Dallas Symphony Orchestra (1964-71). Professor of horn at Richland College. Author of 85 Melodic and Rhythmic Studies for Horn
Joshua Johnson - BM - lecturer of horn at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, 2nd horn, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Utility horn, South Dakota SO, 4th horn Des Moines SO, 3rd horn Quad City SO.
Anna Marshall - MA - adjunct professor of horn at Illinois Wesleyan University and University of Illinois-Springfield.
Amy McBeth - BA, MA, DMA -Library staff of the Rita Benton Music Library. Author of the book A Discography of 78 RPM Era Recordings of the Horn.
Marvin McCoy - (†2008). Was a teacher and former owner of McCoy’s Horn Library publishing house (continued by his daughter Terry Preston); wide experience as a freelance hornist (St Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, etc.); alphorn specialist, and instrument repairman.
Brian McLaughlin - DMA - horn freelancer in NYC and New Jersey area; high school band director in New Jersey.
Patricia Mickey - DMA - Asst. Professor of Horn at Truman State University
Patrick Miles - MA, DMA - Professor Emeritus of Horn, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Conductor of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra and Green Bay Civic Symphony. Author of Teaching Brass: A Resource Manual.
Jim Miller [1930-2011] - MFA, PhD - Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts at the University of Northern Colorado (at UNC 1955-1985).
Marina Miller - BM Former hornist, US Air Force Band of Flight, Dayton, Ohio. Former Production Manager for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently Protocol Specialist to the Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Band. Permanent "angel" donor to the UI Horn Studio.
Allen Myers - PhD Former dean, Washington University of St. Louis; Horn Studio "Angel" donor extraordinaire.
James Naigus - DMA - horn professor at the University of Georgia; composer of instrumental, film and commercial music; specialty: horn ensemble music.
Rachel Niketopoulos - BM - horn professor at Duke University, North Carolina Symphony, Mallarmé Chamber Players; Alexander Technique instructor, natural horn specialist
Alise Oliver - DMA - Artistic Administrator, Kentucky Opera. Former horn professor at the University of Louisville.
Michael Ozment - MA - partner in Polymnia, a service that does engraving and publishing, copyright services, and audio recording.
Abigail Pack - MA - Professor of Horn, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Andrew (Drew) Phillips - MA - Assistant Professor of Horn and Improvisation, Liberty University
Gary Reeves - DMA - Instructor of Horn, Northern State University. Former Associate Professor of Horn, University of South Dakota
Daren Robbins - BM - Artist/Teacher at the Mahidol University College in Thailand, member of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and creator of the web site Orchestral Horn Excerpts
Candler Schaffer - MFA, DMA - Music Director, Conductor of the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Adjunct Instructor of Horn, Florida Southern College
William Scharnberg - MA, MFA, DMA - Professor Emeritus of Horn, North Texas State University. President of the International Horn Society 1990-92. Publications Editor for The Horn Call 2003-2020, Former Principal Horn, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Former Principal Horn, Wichita Falls Symphony.
Steve Schultz - MFA, 2nd horn, Omaha Symphony
Mick Sehmann - DMA, Professor of Horn, Eastern Kentucky University
Jennifer Sholtis - MFA, DMA - Professor of horn, Texas A&M University
Amanda Stout - BM - instructor of horn, Central College (Iowa), Music Technical Director at Grinnell College (IA).
Thomas Staples - DMA - Professor and Director of Bands, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, principal horn, Lethbridge Symphony.
Matt Sullenbrand [né Hellenbrand] - MA, Former assistant to the director, National Association of Schools of Music, Washington DC
Fred Teuber [1929-2013] - PhD. Professional hornist in his early years; professor of theory, composition, and horn at the University of South Carolina after 1967. Author of Studies for Horn (Shawnee Press) and some horn ensemble pieces (Hornists Nest). Obituary.
Kristin Thelander - Director, University of Iowa School of Music 2000-2009. UI Horn Professor 1990-2000. Former Vice-President of the International Horn Society. Planning Director for the UI School of Music 2008-2016.
Virginia Thompson - [1956-2015] BM, DMA - Professor of Horn, West Virginia University 1990-2015. President of the International Horn Society 2000-2002. IHS Advisory Council 1995-2002
Thomas Tritle - DMA - Professor (Emeritus) of Horn, University of Northern Iowa
Fred Teuber - PhD - Professional hornist in his early years; professor of theory, composition, and horn at the University of South Carolina after 1967. Author of Studies for the Horn (Shawnee Press) and some horn ensemble pieces (Hornists Nest); conductor
Will Wiegard - BM (MM University of Michigan; DMA University of Texas-Austin) - Professor of horn, University of Texas-Pan American, San Antonio Brass
Mary Gail Wildman - DMA - 1st/3rd with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra since 1977 (now retired). Former Horn professor at Pensacola Junior College
James Winter (1919-2006) - PhD - Professor of Horn, Fresno State University 1947-1987. President of the International Horn Society, 1983-86. Editor of The Horn Call 1972-76. IHS Advisory Council 1972-76 & 1980-86. Writer (The Brass Instruments) and composer. Honorary Member of the IHS
Natalie Young - BM (MM University of Michigan) - former Professor of Horn, University of Talca, Santiago, Chile; freelance player and teacher in the Dallas TX area; adjunct professor of horn University of North Texas