BA in Music - Horn in Chicago United States | DePaul University

DePaul's horn studio provides a comprehensive training ground for aspiring horn players, featuring exceptional symphonic and wind ensembles, chamber music opportunities, personalized instruction, and weekly studio sessions. Students benefit from the expertise of faculty members Neil Kimel, James Smelser, and Oto Carrillo, who collectively bring nearly 35 years of professional performance experience across symphonic, operatic, solo, and chamber music. We aim to develop career-focused horn players to nationally competitive standards in all musical disciplines, ultimately preparing them for professional-level performance. The weekly master class, guided by all horn faculty, allows students to hone their performance skills before peers, gain faculty critiques, and implement techniques from private lessons. Beyond solo work, students develop ensemble skills, focusing on tone quality, balance, blend, pitch accuracy, and rhythmic precision. The studio class also prepares students for orchestral and operatic auditions through simulated tryouts.