Katy Ambrose is Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Iowa. Previously, she held teaching positions at the University of Virginia and Drexel University, and administrative positions at the Curtis Institute and Yale University Recording Studio. An active performer, Ambrose is currently the horn player in Mirari Brass, Fourth Horn of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and Solo Horn of the New Orchestra of Washington and Victory Hall Opera. Previously, she was Principal Horn of the Charlottesville Symphony (2015-21), Second Horn in the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic (2006-2017), 4th Horn in Philly Pops (2010-2015), Interim Assistant Principal Horn of the Albany Symphony (2006-08), and Assistant Principal Horn of the Lexington Philharmonic (KY) (2004-05). She has made substitute appearances with numerous orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Hawai’i Symphony, Daejeon Philharmonic (South Korea), Vermont Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, and the Richmond Symphony. Commercial highlights of Ambrose’s career have been playing for Adele’s 2016 World Tour and recording for NFL Studios from 2010-2015. Ambrose is dedicated to the performance of chamber music and has created and cultivated several chamber ensembles, including Seraph Brass, Izula Horns, and the natural horn quartet Conica. She recently served as interim Operations Coordinator for the Boulanger Institute, an organization working to promote music written by and for women, helping to launch their inaugural festival in March 2019. 

Dr. Ambrose received her Doctor of Musical Arts from Temple University, Artist Diploma from Yale University, Master of Music from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.