Iowa Horn Festival

The Iowa Horn Festival is an annual, one-day event for horn students in junior high, high school, and college, offering workshops, a masterclass, and a recital featuring students, faculty, and guest artists. Teachers and professional players are encouraged and warmly welcomed to attend.

Check back for news on the 2025 Horn Festival.

Schedule

8-8:45am: Registration
9:00-9:30am: Warm-Up: Breath & Body
9:30-10:15am: Horn Technique Workshop
10:30-12pm: Masterclass with Alberto Suarez in Concert Hall
12:00-1:00pm: LUNCH (provided) and Tour of Voxman Music Building
1:00pm: Horn Choir Reading
3:00pm: Recital featuring students, faculty, and guest artist

2024 Guest Artist: Alberto Suarez

Alberto Suarez is Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Suarez was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, and raised in South Florida. He has served as Principal Horn of the Kansas City Symphony since 2006, where he holds the Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair. He spends his summers performing and teaching at the Round Top Festival Institute.
Suarez has served as guest Principal Horn with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Fort Worth Symphony. Suarez was a member of the New World Symphony from 2002-2006 and toured internationally with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, New World Symphony, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. In addition to performing with the Kansas City Symphony, Suarez performs locally as Principal Horn of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony and the Overland Park Symphony. In 2019, Suarez performed as Principal Horn of the New World Symphony Alumni Orchestra at the 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors celebrating the world-renowned conductor, composer, pianist, and educator Michael Tilson Thomas.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are important to Suarez. He has written and spoken on the subject and is proud to serve as a member of the Artist Council for the National Alliance for Audition Support, a field-wide initiative with the long-term goal of increasing diversity in American orchestras. In addition, Suarez is a member of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, a unique all Black and LatinX orchestra comprised of top professionals from all over the country. In January 2023, Suarez celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, by serving as Principal Horn on a tour, featuring a sold-out performance at the Kennedy Center.
Suarez has taught master classes at The Juilliard School, University of Louisville, University of Kansas, Missouri Western State, Baylor University, University of Denver, Manhattan School of Music and the New World Symphony. He previously served as Artist in Residence: Horn Studio Instructor at the University of Central Missouri.