The Iowa Horn Festival is an annual, one-day event for Iowa horn students in junior high, high school, and college, offering workshops, a masterclass, horn choir, warm-up, and a recital featuring students, faculty, and guest artists.
Teachers and professional players are encouraged and warmly welcomed to attend.
Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Voxman Music Building
8-8:45am: Registration
9:00-9:50am: Warm-Up: Breath & Body
10:00-12pm: Masterclass with Brett Hodge, Principal Horn of the Omaha Symphony
12:00-1:00pm: LUNCH (provided)
1:00pm: Horn Choir
2:30pm: Recital featuring participants and guest artist
2026 Guest Artist: Brett Hodge
Principal Horn, Omaha Symphony
In addition to his full-time orchestral role, Brett maintains a vibrant freelance and teaching career, performing regularly as a Guest Principal Horn and guest with some of the nation’s premier ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. He also serves as Third Horn with the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, Illinois, and is one of the Principal Horns of the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, Minnesota, during the summer season.
Previous Iowa Horn Festival Featured Guest Artists include: Albert Suarez (2024), Cara Kizer (2023), and Marc Zyla (2022).
In 2025, Iowa hosted the International Horn Society's Mid-North Horn Workshop, with Featured Artists Adam Unsworth and Rachel Childers.