Hornfest! clinicians
Nikolette LaBonte
Nikolette LaBonte is the newly appointed Principal Horn of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. She also serves as principal horn of the Music in the Mountains summer festival and comes to Calgary from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra where she served as Associate Principal Horn. Nikolette has also held positions with the Fort Worth Symphony as Acting Principal Horn and the Hawaii Symphony as Acting Assistant Principal Horn and has had the opportunity to perform with orchestras across North America including guest principal engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Tucson Symphony, and an extended engagement with the Baltimore Symphony as Visiting Guest Principal Horn.
Active as an educator, Ms. LaBonte was the Instructor of Natural Horn at the Eastman School of Music, served on the faculties of the Eastman Horn Institute and Carnegie Hall’s NYO2, and has been a guest lecturer at institutions including SUNY Potsdam, the University of Maryland, and the University of Texas at Austin. Nikolette is also an award-winning soloist and was a participant in the prestigious ARD International Competition in 2021, the only American horn player invited.
Originally from South Florida, Ms. LaBonte received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of W. Peter Kurau. Outside the concert hall, Ms. LaBonte is active in promoting classical music throughout the community. She serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, is the Paper Archivist for the International Horn Society, and has presented performances and lectures as a member of the International Horn Society and the International Women’s Brass Conference. Away from the horn, she enjoys hiking, bicycling, and scuba diving, although she must reserve the latter for her visits to more tropical destinations.
Nikolette LaBonte is the newly appointed Principal Horn of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. She also serves as principal horn of the Music in the Mountains summer festival and comes to Calgary from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra where she served as Associate Principal Horn. Nikolette has also held positions with the Fort Worth Symphony as Acting Principal Horn and the Hawaii Symphony as Acting Assistant Principal Horn and has had the opportunity to perform with orchestras across North America including guest principal engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Tucson Symphony, and an extended engagement with the Baltimore Symphony as Visiting Guest Principal Horn.
Active as an educator, Ms. LaBonte was the Instructor of Natural Horn at the Eastman School of Music, served on the faculties of the Eastman Horn Institute and Carnegie Hall’s NYO2, and has been a guest lecturer at institutions including SUNY Potsdam, the University of Maryland, and the University of Texas at Austin. Nikolette is also an award-winning soloist and was a participant in the prestigious ARD International Competition in 2021, the only American horn player invited.
Originally from South Florida, Ms. LaBonte received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of W. Peter Kurau. Outside the concert hall, Ms. LaBonte is active in promoting classical music throughout the community. She serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, is the Paper Archivist for the International Horn Society, and has presented performances and lectures as a member of the International Horn Society and the International Women’s Brass Conference. Away from the horn, she enjoys hiking, bicycling, and scuba diving, although she must reserve the latter for her visits to more tropical destinations.
Jennifer Frank-Umana
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Jennifer Frank-Umana is the Associate Principal horn of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Before coming to the CPO, Jennifer was a member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra as Third horn, and an active freelance musician in the Greater Boston and New England Area where she was finishing her graduate studies. She has performed with the Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Portland Symphony, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic and has participated in several music festivals, including the National Repertory Orchestra, and the National Orchestral Institute.
Jennifer received her Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University and Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. Her principal teachers include Gregory Hustis, former Principal horn of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and James Sommerville, Principal horn of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Outside of her musical life, Jennifer enjoys activities with her two boys, and spending time with her family. Other activities she enjoys include volunteering for animal rescue, baking, and gardening.
Jennifer received her Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University and Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. Her principal teachers include Gregory Hustis, former Principal horn of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and James Sommerville, Principal horn of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Outside of her musical life, Jennifer enjoys activities with her two boys, and spending time with her family. Other activities she enjoys include volunteering for animal rescue, baking, and gardening.
Peter Clark
Peter is a dedicated horn player with a deep passion for orchestral music. Before arriving in Calgary, he has served as the 3rd horn with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra during the 2019/2020 season and has collaborated with a diverse range of ensembles, including l’Orchestre Métropolitain, the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Pops Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.
Peter earned his Master’s in Horn Performance from McGill University under the mentorship of John Zirbel, and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Alberta, studying with Allene Hackleman. His foundational horn studies began with Mary Fearon at Alberta College.
In addition to his orchestral work, Peter is a regular performer with Edmonton’s esteemed Bok Brass and founder of the Northern Horn Quartet. Both ensembles reflect his enthusiasm for chamber music and his talent for arranging.
Peter earned his Master’s in Horn Performance from McGill University under the mentorship of John Zirbel, and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Alberta, studying with Allene Hackleman. His foundational horn studies began with Mary Fearon at Alberta College.
In addition to his orchestral work, Peter is a regular performer with Edmonton’s esteemed Bok Brass and founder of the Northern Horn Quartet. Both ensembles reflect his enthusiasm for chamber music and his talent for arranging.
Maxwell Stein
Maxwell Stein is an accomplished American hornist living in Calgary, Canada since 2019.
He holds the position of Third Horn in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In this role, he takes part in hundreds of diverse, modern and eclectic orchestral programs reaching hundreds of thousands of audience members a year.
His performing career in Calgary also includes frequent and regular appearances with the Calgary Opera Company and The Alberta Ballet.
Maxwell Stein is an active music educator and holds the title of teaching artist with the PhilKids after school music education program of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. This program brings free music education and private lessons to students who would otherwise not have access.
Maxwell has been a teaching artist with this visionary program since 2020. Maxwell has been invited frequently to teach masterclasses at the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music as well as the University of Calgary. He maintains a private studio and teaches clinics throughout Calgary to elementary and high school students.
Maxwell Stein has performed under the baton of Andris Nelson’s, Osmo Vanska, Joann Falletta, Hans Graf and Brett Mitchell. He has performed at venues across North America, most notably Carnegie Hall and Symphony Center in Chicago.
Maxwell has an extensive performance history including regular season appearances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.
Orchestral positions won in the past include Principal Horn of the Dearborn Symphony, Third Horn of the Lansing Symphony, Assistant Principal Horn of the Ann Arbor Symphony and most notably, a section position with the United States Air Force Band in DC, the Air Force’s premier musical organization.
Maxwell completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance with Adam Unsworth and Bryan Kennedy. He then pursued graduate studies at the Shepherd School of Music of Rice University under the tutelage of William VerMeulen.
He has been offered invitations to numerous summer music institutes including The National Repertory Orchestra, the Tanglewood Institute Fellowship Program, the Banff Center for Arts and the Texas Music Festival.
He holds the position of Third Horn in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In this role, he takes part in hundreds of diverse, modern and eclectic orchestral programs reaching hundreds of thousands of audience members a year.
His performing career in Calgary also includes frequent and regular appearances with the Calgary Opera Company and The Alberta Ballet.
Maxwell Stein is an active music educator and holds the title of teaching artist with the PhilKids after school music education program of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. This program brings free music education and private lessons to students who would otherwise not have access.
Maxwell has been a teaching artist with this visionary program since 2020. Maxwell has been invited frequently to teach masterclasses at the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music as well as the University of Calgary. He maintains a private studio and teaches clinics throughout Calgary to elementary and high school students.
Maxwell Stein has performed under the baton of Andris Nelson’s, Osmo Vanska, Joann Falletta, Hans Graf and Brett Mitchell. He has performed at venues across North America, most notably Carnegie Hall and Symphony Center in Chicago.
Maxwell has an extensive performance history including regular season appearances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.
Orchestral positions won in the past include Principal Horn of the Dearborn Symphony, Third Horn of the Lansing Symphony, Assistant Principal Horn of the Ann Arbor Symphony and most notably, a section position with the United States Air Force Band in DC, the Air Force’s premier musical organization.
Maxwell completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance with Adam Unsworth and Bryan Kennedy. He then pursued graduate studies at the Shepherd School of Music of Rice University under the tutelage of William VerMeulen.
He has been offered invitations to numerous summer music institutes including The National Repertory Orchestra, the Tanglewood Institute Fellowship Program, the Banff Center for Arts and the Texas Music Festival.
Heather Wootton
Heather has been a member of the horn section of the Calgary Philharmonic since 1993. Before coming to Calgary, she was a member the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Stratford Festival Orchestra, and maintained an active free-lance career about southern Ontario.
Born in Provost, Alberta and raised largely in Ottawa, Ontario, Heather received a Bachelor of Musical Arts and an Artists’ Diploma in Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and continued her studies with the Orchestral Training Program of the Royal Conservatory and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Her main teachers at that time included Robert Creech, former Principal horn of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Eugene Rittich, former Principal horn of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Further studies included summers at the Keystone Brass Institute in Colorado, the Kent/Blossom Festival studying with members of the Cleveland Orchestra and performing
as principal horn of the Festival Orchestra of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Heather enjoyed studying with such artists as Richard Solis, Gail
Williams, Bill Klingelhoffer and Phillip Farkas. From 2001 - 2008, Heather was guest soloist and horn instructor at the “Summer Music on the Shannon” music festival then based in Limerick, Ireland. .
Heather is an avid chamber musician and was a founding member of the chamber ensembles, Rosa Selvatica, and Altius Brass. She is increasingly busy as a teacher and
clinician and finds great joy in helping students of all ages discover music and the horn.
She is Mum to Liam, a busy teenager and enjoys being involved in her close-knit community of Wildwood, gardening and spending time at the family cottage in Ontario, her “little piece of heaven”.
Born in Provost, Alberta and raised largely in Ottawa, Ontario, Heather received a Bachelor of Musical Arts and an Artists’ Diploma in Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and continued her studies with the Orchestral Training Program of the Royal Conservatory and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Her main teachers at that time included Robert Creech, former Principal horn of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Eugene Rittich, former Principal horn of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Further studies included summers at the Keystone Brass Institute in Colorado, the Kent/Blossom Festival studying with members of the Cleveland Orchestra and performing
as principal horn of the Festival Orchestra of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Heather enjoyed studying with such artists as Richard Solis, Gail
Williams, Bill Klingelhoffer and Phillip Farkas. From 2001 - 2008, Heather was guest soloist and horn instructor at the “Summer Music on the Shannon” music festival then based in Limerick, Ireland. .
Heather is an avid chamber musician and was a founding member of the chamber ensembles, Rosa Selvatica, and Altius Brass. She is increasingly busy as a teacher and
clinician and finds great joy in helping students of all ages discover music and the horn.
She is Mum to Liam, a busy teenager and enjoys being involved in her close-knit community of Wildwood, gardening and spending time at the family cottage in Ontario, her “little piece of heaven”.
Laurie Matiation
Originally from Brandon, Manitoba, Laurie is currently Artistic Director of the Academy and Advanced Program at Mount Royal University Conservatory - a unique program specifically designed for students who wish to work on their performance skills and self confidence.
A passionate teacher, Laurie believes that all can achieve their goals and dreams with proper guidance, inspiration, and support. She has appeared as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, conducts workshops and clinics, and is one of the founding members of HornFest, an annual horn workshop.
She is also teacher of horn at Mount Royal University Conservatory and the University of Calgary. Laurie began her professional career in 1978 as second horn of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983. In June of 2019, Laurie retired from the CPO after 41 years of service in the orchestra business.
Laurie received a Bachelor of Music Degree with Distinction in Performance at Brandon University, and later continued her studies in Chicago, Banff, and Arizona. Some of her teachers have included, William Gordon, Dale Clevenger, and Thomas Bacon.
In her down time, Laurie loves to cook and garden, and can often be seen walking her dogs or hiking in the mountains!
Douglas Umana
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Douglas Umana is currently an active freelance musician and clinician in Calgary, where he performs regularly as a substitute/extra horn with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and as 2nd Horn of the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. Douglas is also the Instructor of Horn at the University of Lethbridge. Before coming to Calgary, Douglas was based in Dallas TX, where he maintained a private teaching studio and performed regularly with the Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and Plano Symphony Orchestras.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Douglas received his Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University and Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music. His principal teachers include Gregory Hustis, former Principal horn of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and William Purvis, horn soloist and chamber musician. |
