Eastman Summer Horn Institute

Deadline now extended to June 1, 2023!

INS 406
Eastman Summer Horn Institute
July 31-August 4, 2023 / Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Rooms: MSH 1, OSL 101, A902

Faculty: W. Peter Kurau, Professor of Horn, Eastman School of Music / Principal Horn, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; Nikolette LaBonte, Associate Principal/Assistant Principal/Utility Horn, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; Elizabeth Freimuth, Principal Horn, Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras
Guest faculty: TBA

Enhance your performance skills through FUNdamentals! Solidify your craft to liberate and express your artistry on the horn! This institute will include three private lessons (one with each faculty member) as well as a daily schedule of fundamental sessions, individual coaching on solo pieces, faculty presentations and performances, guest faculty workshops, horn ensemble rehearsals conducted by faculty, and evening sessions focusing on everything from solo repertoire to excerpts to etudes. All this work culminates in two performance opportunities at the end of the week, giving students a chance to perform with our esteemed institute pianists as well as showcase their horn ensemble work from the week!

This institute’s focus on the fun and efficacy of fundamentals (and its many opportunities for performance) gives students a unique chance to see how their daily practice on basic skills on the horn can manifest in their performance of all repertoire and improve their ability to express themselves without impediment as artists.

This institute is designed as a residential program; participants age 14 and older may reserve on-campus housing and meals at the Eastman Student Living Center. The housing cost includes three meals per day. Students must be 14 by the first day of the program in order to stay in the Student Living Center; students under age 14 may not stay on campus and will need to make alternate housing arrangements. Note that housing space is limited this year; please reserve early once you have confirmed you will attend. For information about on-campus housing and a list of resources for those staying off-campus, click here.

Begins on Sunday, July 30 at 6 p.m. with Orientation meeting in MSH 1
Faculty Concert: Tuesday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Hatch Recital Hall
Participant Concerts: Thursday, August 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall and Friday, August 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall

Planning your arrival and departure:
First scheduled activity: Orientation meeting, Sunday, July 30 at 6 p.m. in MSH 1
Last scheduled activity: Participant Concert, Friday, August 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall

Professional Development Hours: 50
Tuition:
$725 / noncredit (institute tuition only)
$1,265 / tuition with housing and meals    

“I’ve gained lots of confidence this week, and I have a better understanding of fundamentals and horn technique.” — 2022 French Horn Institute participant

 

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

High school students: a short video audition is required for admission to the Institute. The recording should contain the following:

  • One of the following etudes: Maxime Alphonse Book 3,  #1 or #9; Kopprasch #21, #22 or #46
  • Exposition of first movement (no accompaniment) for Mozart 2, 3, or 4
  • Plus one selection of the applicant’s choice
    Applicants are encouraged to present repertoire by composers who have been traditionally underrepresented by virtue of their gender, race, ethnicity, or cultural heritage.
    Search composers using the following database links:
    Anna’s Composer Database: https://annascomposerdatabase.com
    Institute for Composer Diversity: https://www.composerdiversity.com/
    or resources available here: https://libguides.esm.rochester.edu/c.php?g=1057653&p=7705809

Recordings are due June 1, 2023 (new deadline).

Collegiate students and adults: no audition is required, but please send a copy of your résumé (including two references) to both Nikolette LaBonte at: nlabontehorn@gmail.com and Peter Kurau at: wpkurau@esm.rochester.edu before applying. Résumés will be reviewed as they are received.

Audition video instructions:

All applicants must submit separate video links for each piece on the audition list.

All videos must conform to the following format:

  • Camera facing directly at the applicant (no side-facing videos)
  • Camera 5-15 feet from student, clearly showing you and your instrument
  • Uploaded to YouTube for ease of transmitting (unlisted links suggested; public links okay; private links don’t work)

Please send video links together in one Word document as shown in the example template below (do not forward individual videos to the Summer@Eastman office). Links should be “active” so that videos can be viewed directly from your document; you may wish to test this before submitting your audition.

Application material templates:

You may use an existing résumé if you already have one set up; these templates are provided in case you need help putting information together.

Résumé (collegiate students / adults only)
Audition Video Links (high school students only)

Please follow this format (or very similar) for your application materials. This will help us get to know you as thoroughly as possible through your application!

There is no fee to audition for this workshop. Auditions and résumés will be reviewed as they are received.

Audition deadline: Please send recordings or résumés by June 1, 2023.

Click HERE to submit an audition
Once admitted, click HERE to register

Read our blog: Summer@Eastman Spotlight: Eastman Summer Horn Institute