THOMAS JÖSTLEIN JOINS SCHOOL OF MUSIC FACULTY!

Thomas Jöstlein, currently assistant principal horn of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, has joined the School of Music faculty effective August 2009. Jöstlein will be heading up the outstanding horn studio in Urbana developed by Dr. Kazimierz Machala, who retired at the end of this past academic year.

"Wouldn't you want to play horn with the freedom of a five-year old child?"

Recently appointed assistant professor of Horn at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Thomas Jöstlein will bring liberation from the horn and a joy of music making to the studio. As the father of a two-year old boy (Klaus), he witnesses this freedom on a daily basis.

It is thanks to his great mentors, Tubists Arnold Jacobs and Roger Rocco, that Thomas has the knowledge to effect this change in his students.

His playing background is varied, bridging many schools of horn playing, both Chicago and New York styles as well as a keen sense of the European solo style.

Thomas was New York Philharmonic Assistant Principal Horn from 2007-2009, playing all positions, including Principal and third Horn. With the orchestra under the direction of Lorin Maazel, he performed on three major tours, including the historic live broadcast from North Korea. Previously, he held positions with the Honolulu, Omaha, Richmond, and Kansas City symphony orchestras over a course of thirteen years.

An active soloist, he won first prize in the professional division of the American Horn Competition in 2003 and the grand prize at the Hugo Kauder Music Competition at Yale University in 2005, earning a recital at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City.

Mr. Jöstlein studied with hornists William VerMeulen and Thomas Bacon at Rice University, and privately with tubists Arnold Jacobs and Roger Rocco. He has taught at the University of Hawaii and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Born in Port Jefferson, New York, Mr. Jöstlein was raised in Naperville, Illinois by German parents. His father is a retired particle physicist at Fermilab and an amateur musician, and his sister, Barbara Currie, is fourth horn at The Metropolitan Opera. His wife, Tricia, was formerly principal horn of the Omaha Symphony, principal horn of the Des Moines Metro Opera, second with the Richmond Symphony, and is currently a member of the Britt Festival orchestra.

Thomas welcomes all hornists with a passion for music and who love the pursuit of excellence. He welcomes all interested musicians to contact him.

For more information about Professor Jöstlein, please go to the NY Philharmonic website at Thomas Jöstlein.

Welcome Thomas Jöstlein and family, and best wishes to Professor Kazimierz Machala!