Lisa Ford is Principal Horn of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Senior Lecturer at the Academy of Music and Drama at Gothenburg University, and a professional coach. Lisa carries on the traditions of Frøydis Ree Wekre, Julie Landsman, Norman Schweikert, and the Chicago Style of horn playing.

In her teaching, she emphasizes artistic and personal integrity as well as helping each individual to become their own best teacher. 

www.lisafordhorn.com

Virginia is a Professor of Management in the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Montana State University. She engages in cross-disciplinary research which has shaped public policy, educational policy, been cited in leadership, ethics, and career books, and used in graduate reading lists and training programs. Virginia is particularly interested in organizational influence in human resource management contexts from perspectives of underrepresented populations and people of color.

She teaches courses on organizational behavior, human resource management, and leadership, and has delivered seminars on conflict management, ethics, and strategic compensation. Virginia earned a BA in political science and cultural arts, an MA in arts management, and a PhD in business administration.

Jane Booth is Director of Guildhall Ignite, a professional development and performing arts coaching consultancy based at London’s internationally-acclaimed Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Following a 30-year career performing worldwide as a period-instrument clarinettist, Jane now brings her expertise in the field of skilful communication, leadership and executive coaching to organisations across the UK and EU. Ignite’s research-based flagship programme ‘Leaders On and Off Stage,’ is creating positive change in orchestra cultures worldwide.

Jessica Phillips is an experienced performer, dedicated educator, and innovative leader in the arts. She won her position of Second and E-flat Clarinet in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 2001. She holds an MBA in Arts Innovation from the Global Leaders Institute, and graduated cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Music.

Throughout her career, she has appeared as Guest Principal Clarinet with the Chicago Symphony, as well as performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Bavarian State Opera Orchestra, Mainly Mozart Festival, Napa Valley Music Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival, American Ballet Theater, Santa Fe Opera, St. Bart’s Music Festival, and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Joy Worland was formerly Third/Associate Principal Horn of the Nashville Symphony and Principal Horn of the Mexico City Philharmonic.

She currently freelances in Vermont and northern New England, and is the Consultant for Continuing Education and Small and Rural Libraries at the Vermont Department of Libraries.

Dr. Monica C. Martinez is Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She currently holds the third Horn position with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (TX) and is also a member of Hill Country Brass, 956 Brass, and Texas Chamber Winds. She is a passionate educator and freelance musician who regularly performs and teaches masterclasses to musicians of all levels.

Recently, she was promoted to Secretary of the Executive Advisory Council with the International Horn Society where she is responsible for carrying out the mission, vision, values, and goals of the Horn community worldwide. 

Jennifer Montone joined The Philadelphia Orchestra as principal horn in 2006.

She is currently on the faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music. 

Julie Landsman was the Principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 1985-2010 as well as a former instructor at Juilliard School.

Currently, she is a horn instructor USC Thornton School of Music.

Michelle Baker was second horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 1990-2017. Prior, she was a member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. 

Michelle currently serves on the faculty and is Chair of Brass at Manhattan School of Music.

Julia Pilant is currently the acting 3rd horn of the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera, and a regular guest with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra horn section and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She also performs and teaches at various summer festivals and educational institutions throughout the U.S. and Japan.  

Previously, she was the Assistant Principal Horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 12 years, and prior to that, was the Principal Horn of the Syracuse Symphony for 10 years. Additionally, she was a horn instructor for the Bard College Conservatory of Music for 15 years. She also freelanced in the New York City music scene for several decades which included performing regularly with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the American Symphony Orchestra, and numerous Broadway shows.

Dedicated to music education at the highest level, Sylvia Alimena, a.k.a. “Ms. A,” is currently in her 36th year as Music Director of Brass of Peace. Summoned to Washington as Second Horn (1985-2024) of the National Symphony Orchestra by Mstislav Rostropovich, Ms. Alimena and twenty-two of her NSO colleagues formed the critically acclaimed Eclipse Chamber Orchestra in 1992. She served also as Board President for sixteen of her twenty-year tenure as Music Director and Conductor, commissioning almost a dozen works and premiering nearly twenty.

Ms. Alimena’s former music directorships include the McLean Orchestra (2003-2010), the Avanti Orchestra (1995-2004), Interim Principal Conductor, American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (2017-18). Ms. Alimena worked collaboratively with Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart to produce the first orchestral performances for vocalists of the Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Artist’s Program from 2003-2006. She currently maintains a private horn studio and advanced coaching studio for semi-professional musicians.

Cara Kizer is currently a nationally active freelancer, and college professor in the St. Louis and Illinois areas. Born in Texas, she began horn at the age of 14. Her studies began at Texas Tech University where she studied under Anthony Brittin. She continued on to The Juilliard School for a master’s degree, where she studied under the late Jerome Ashby, former Associate Principal Horn of the New York Philharmonic. Cara received an artist diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music where she studied under Jerome Ashby and Jennifer Montone, Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As an orchestral musician, Cara has held positions with numerous orchestras. She was Assistant Principal Utility Horn of the New York Philharmonic. She held the same position with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She also played second horn with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.