French Horn in the Bachelor of Music (BMus)

The horns at Laurier are a tight-knit group of students and professors who meet at least once a week as a group and have pride in our studio. Our students play in many local groups, including the Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, Stratford Symphony, Cambridge Symphony and the Guelph Symphony. We also form horn quartets and trios that work together weekly to perfect our sound.

French horn students attend masterclasses and special events together, creating a close-knit, supportive community of performers. We host guest presenters in our masterclasses several times a term to provide a well-rounded learning experience for our students.

Careers

professional performing musician
teacher
music administrator
music creator
producer
sound engineer

Alumni have successfully pursued law, medicine, business, music therapy and community music.

Auditions

Requirements

Admission to the Bachelor of Music is based on the collective results of your audition, academics, theory and ear training test, interview, reference and optional portfolio.

Audition repertoire should be performed at a Grade 8 RCM level or higher. RCM formal training and exams are not required.

All major scales, two octaves.
Two contrasting selections from the following list, or a selection of your choice.
- Maxime-Alphonse: Études, Book 1, published by A.Leduc.
- Kopprasch: Sixty Selected Études for French Horn, Book 1, any edition.
- Mozart, W.A.: Concerto No. 3 in E flat, first movement, any edition.

Other selections:

Solos for the Horn Player, selected and edited by Mason Jones (anything from this book), published by G. Schirmer.

Audition Advice

Remember: we are looking for potential, not perfection!

Program Details

First-Year Courses

MU100: Music at its Contexts
MU181: Ensemble
MU136/137: Musical Skills
MU161/162: Music Theory
MU190A: Applied Study (lessons and masterclass)
three elective courses

Laurier Ensemble and Performance Opportunities

Symphony Orchestra
Wind Orchestra
chamber music ensembles
student recitals
student composer concerts
concerto competitions
community outreach performances

French Horn Instructor

Samuel Fraser

French Horn Guest Artists

Vanessa Fralick, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Gongos, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
David Martin, composer and conductor, Montréal
Ashley Cumming (BMus ’07)
Julie Rochus (BMus ’08)

Additional French Horn Facts

Facilities and Equipment

The studio is equipped to provide a seamless transition to remote learning, if needed. Students that may be unable to attend a lesson or studio class in person will have the option to participate in a live remote event or request a recording of the class.

Health and Well-being

You will be a part of a small community of supportive peers and teachers. During you studies, your teacher will help you find an appropriate work-life balance and give you the tools necessary to make sustainable and healthy progress.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to form chamber music groups amongst their peers to perform on student recitals and in the community.
Students are encouraged to apply for summer music programs each year. These programs are located around Canada and throughout the world. Students will receive guidance in putting together their audition packages and applications for each program. Programs range from volunteer teaching to performance music festivals.
Many students are actively preparing for auditions. These auditions range from summer festivals to professional orchestra auditions. Many students also have projects such as arranging, composition, and other groups that they perform with.
Students will be able to take part in performances around the southern Ontario region, participate in masterclasses from industry professionals and have opportunities to play mock auditions to prepare them for professional audition taking.