The Horn Call Podcast

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

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

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.

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

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