BACKGROUND


I have played professionally since I was a senior in high school. I've been fortunate to have studied with some of the great artists of the horn. My first important teacher was James Winter, who was a protégé of Philip Farkas, the principal hornist of the Chicago Symphony under Fritz Reiner.

As an undergrad at USC I studied with Wendell Hoss, one of the founders of the Los Angeles Horn Club and one of the great gentlemen of the horn. I went on to study with the great James Decker, whose recordings for Igor Stravinsky and Bruno Walter are legendary.

I love the traditions of the horn and treasure the pedigrees of my my teachers. Through them I have been influenced by many of the great horn players of the past. Through Winter: Farkas and Max Pottag. Through Decker: James Stagliano and Alfred Brain (Dennis Brain's uncle).

I firmly believe in life-long learning. In the past few years I have been coached on horn by my good friend and world-renowned Hollywood recording artist James Thatcher and I am currently working with Boyde Hood, retired principal trumpet of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.