
Our guest for Episode 73 is Elizabeth Freimuth, professor of horn in the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, former principal horn of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the IHS Advisory Council!
Episode Highlights
Teaching full time at her Alma Mater, Rice University
Differences between teaching full time and performing in an orchestra full time.
Changes in teaching philosophy over the years
Balancing analytical mindset vs. performance mindset
Importance of the IHS
International Horn Competition of America
Technology and horn playing/teaching
“It’s a very distracting world…”
Cincinnati Symphony/Pops stories
Keeping playing fundamentals in order
May 15
52 min

Join us in Episode 72 for a conversation with Matias Piñera, Solo horn of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra!
Episode Highlights
Important influences
Preparing for the Munich Philharmonic audition, audition process
Living and working in Germany, and what he misses most about Chile
Teaching position at the Mozarteum Academy.
Balancing teaching and performing
Latin Band Los Pitutos
https://youtu.be/4EgTgsDeZww?si=6wHp40i6HM9ZZkGm
developed new instrument
How the International Horn Society been important in his career.
Apr 15
52 min

Our guest for Episode 71 is Kate Caliendo! Kate enjoys a diverse musical career of symphonic playing, chamber music, recording, soloing and teaching. She is currently Second Horn of the Jacksonville Symphony and has also held Fourth Horn positions with the Houston Symphony and San Antonio Symphony.
Episode Highlights
Getting started on the horn
Neurodivergence as a musician
New teaching position: University of North Florida
Round Top Music Festival
A multi-faceted approach to modern careers: gigging, teaching, playing, social media
“If you are making music, you are a musician.”
New project: Moonflower, for unaccompanied solo Horn
Charleston Horn Camp
Maintaining Inspiration as an artist
IHS importance
Social Media: Kate Caliendo or Kate Caliendo Horn
Katecaliendo.com
[email protected]
Mar 15
46 min

Join us in Episode 70 for a conversation with Dr. Derek J. Wright! Derek plays 3rd horn with the award-winning Dallas Winds and in the West Texas Symphony. He has performed with several major orchestras including the Fort Worth Symphony and the Dallas Symphony. Dr. Wright is also a co-owner of Houghton Horns. He has contributed to the design of horns and mouthpieces for the Verus brand and frequently speaks on instrument design and acoustics at various educational institutions.
Episode Highlights
Horn playing journey, education, influences, etc.
Studying with Kazimierz Machala at the University of Illinois, followed by Masters at University of Minnesota, Doctorate at Arizona State University
Moving to Texas, getting started with Houghton Horns, and eventually becoming a co-owner
Houghton Horns Retail Shop and Repair Shop are two different businesses
“Bad practice is worse than no practice…”
Horn/mouthpiece design
Marketing, communication, and other aspects of the business
Skills learned as a musician that have been helpful in business, and vice-versa
Upcoming projects/developments
New Houghton Horns building with concert hall
Importance of the IHS to you and Houghton Horns
“I need to always learn…”
National Association of Music Merchandisers
National Association of School Music Dealers, Inc
Molly Gebrian, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing
The Savvy Musician by David Cutler
Feb 1
1 hr 1 min

Our guest for this episode of The Horn Call podcast is Wojciech Kamionka, the host of IHS 58 in Poland!
Episode Highlights
Musical journey, current teaching position
IHS58 preparations, news/updates
What IHS58 attendees can expect
Musical life in Poland, opportunities for horn players
Polish Music Edition: New method book
Scales and Arpeggios book: Penderecki Academy Press
Jan 15
44 min

Our guest for this episode of The Horn Call Podcast is the ebullient Heidi Oros!
Heidi professional freelance hornist in the Finger Lakes area and is a former second hornist with La Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México. Heidi is a founding member (2006) of the woodwind ensemble, “i venti dementi,” and has been the hornist with the Swamp College Brass Quintet since 2007. Most recently, she joined the Lake Effect Winds, a woodwind quintet situated in Ithaca. Heidi earned her BM and MM at Ithaca College. She teaches private horn lessons in Trumansburg.
Episode Highlights
Personal journey on the horn, important teachers/inspirations along the way
Keys to Transposition Book: https://www.keystotransposition.com/
Performing in Mexico
Organizing performances of Lionheart's Call by James Naigus to honor healthcare workers: jamesnaigus.com
Taking time off and coming back to the horn
High Range Magic: https://marsgelfo.com/hrm-overview/
Zoom Meetings with Jack Covert/Memorial Concert
Importance of the IHS, symposiums, community, etc.
Dec 15, 2025
47 min

Our guest for Episode 67 is the incredible Scott Schiffer Leger! Widely known for his fun and educational videos, Scott is a member of the Louisville Orchestra and is in high demand as clinician, teacher, and soloist.
Episode Highlights
Balancing a career and lots of other obligations
Performing in the New World Symphony
Early video work, getting into social media
Learning new skills, saying yes!
“Experience is valuable”
Shoutout to Jennifer Montone!
Having fun playing the horn, taking away the stigma of high and low range
How has content creation changed over the last few years
“AI has changed the name of the game.”
Importance of not taking yourself too seriously
Nov 15, 2025
1 hr 1 min

Our guest for Episode 66 is Christopher Brigham! Chris is an American horn player and educator who is currently living in Cologne, Germany, with an active freelance career and private teaching studio. He is the author of "Olga’s Last Call: The Horns of Auschwitz" in the April 2025 issue of The Horn Call.
Episode Highlights
Early studies with Mike Harcrow, Karen Houghton
Studying at West Texas A&M University, then Hartt School (David Wakefield)
Studying in Germany (Essen, Detmold)
Recovering from focal dystonia
Auditions in Germany
Switching to an Alexander 103 horn
Klaus Fehr Horns: https://fehr-frenchhorns.com/
Teaching/Freelancing in Germany
https://www.muvac.com
Article in The Horn Call, Olga’s Last Call: The Horns of Auschwitz
Conducting an enthusiast horn ensemble at IHS symposia
Oct 15, 2025
50 min

Join me in Episode 65 for a conversation with the amazing Kristina Mascher-Turner!
Episode Highlights
Early inspirations, musical and otherwise
Early training on the horn
Attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studying with Douglas Hill
“You have to fall in love with fundamentals.”
Studying/Working/Living in Europe
Advice for horn players looking to study/work abroad
Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra
Work with the American Horn Quartet (hornquartet.com), chamber music
AHQ Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBz4drOokaM
New teaching position in Ghent, Belgium: KASK & Conservatorium School of Arts in Ghent schoolofartsgent.be
Favorite exercises for the horn, teaching philosophy, etc.
Sep 15, 2025
44 min

Our guest for Episode 64 is the amazing Ken Pope! Ken is the owner of Pope Horns and has been a member of the IHS Advisory Council.
Episode Highlights
Early Musical Journey and Transition to Horn Repair
Career in Instrument Repair and Sales
Instrument Maintenance and Repair: The single most important maintenance tip for brass instruments is to oil the valves.
Balancing Performance and Business
Advice for Aspiring Repairers/Retailers
Current State of the Business and Future
The International Horn Society
Aug 15, 2025
51 min
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