One of my main duties as an area representative for the International Horn Society is to stay up to date on horn-related news and events from around the state, and to share that information with as many horn players as possible.  Thanks to the efforts of IHS webmaster Dan Phillips (of the University of Memphis), we have a website dedicated to that purpose, Louisiana Horn News.  I recently updated the news section of the site with information from Spring and Summer 2011, but I could still use more material!  I know the horn players in Louisiana are extremely busy, and it would be great for us to share what we’ve been doing – not only with each other, but with our students, and colleagues from around the country.  We also have a Facebook group with the same name, and I encourage anyone who’s interested to join it.   Here are some of the things Louisiana horn players have been up to lately.

• Catherine Roche-Wallace (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) performed and presented at the 43rd International Horn Symposium at San Francisco State University, June 20-25.

• Seth Orgel (Louisiana State University, Atlantic Brass Quintet) performed and taught at the 18th annual Atlantic Brass Quintet International Seminar, held on the campus of Sonoma State University (June 13-18) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (July 24-August 6).  Seth also performed the Poulenc sextet with Christopher O’Reilly and the LSU TIMM Quintet.

• Seth’s students have also been busy. Dafydd Bevil, a graduating senior, will be attending Roosevelt University in Chicago for his MM, in the studio of Dale Clevenger, beginning in Fall 2011.  Mathew Taylor, a graduating master’s student, performed with the Ohio Light Opera in Summer 2011.

• James Boldin (University of Louisiana at Monroe) was recently awarded the Dr. William R. Hammond Professorship in Liberal Arts.  The appointment is for three years, renewable annually.  James plans to use the funds from the professorship to record a solo CD and purchase a natural horn for the studio at ULM.

• Thomas Hundemer (Shreveport Symphony, Centenary College) performed with the Des Moines Metro Opera orchestra in Des Moines, IA, and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary music in Santa Cruz, CA.

• Kristine Coreil (Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Shreveport Symphony) performed a guest recital of French music for horn and piano on February 16th at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

• Les Cors de la Louisiane (Thomas Hundemer, Kristine Coreil, Craig Pratt, James Boldin) performed recitals in February and April at Northwestern State University of Louisiana and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

I’d love to include lots more information, so if you are a Louisiana Horn player and have news or would like to advertise an upcoming event, get in touch with me through the Louisiana Horn News website.   One special announcement goes out to horn students – join the IHS! – it’s a wonderful organization, and the membership dues – especially for students – are very reasonable. Membership in the IHS connects you to a tremendous network of horn players throughout the world.