2020 Guest Artists
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Robert McCosh was born in Melfort, Saskatchewan. After completing his Bachelor of Music with a gold medal at Brandon University, he studied with Erich Penzel in Cologne, Germany for 2 years, courtesy of a German Academic Exchange Scholarship. He then spent a year at the Banff Centre taking master classes with Philip Farkas and Froydis Ree Wekre, among others.
Robert started his professional career with the woodwind quintet York Winds in 1986, fleshing out his work in the Toronto area by freelancing with all the major orchestras and musicals such as Cats, Wizard of Oz and Les Miserables. As well, he performed with the Hannaford Street Silver Band and various new music groups, such as the Esprit Orchestra. In 1990, Robert won the Principal Horn position with Symphony Nova Scotia. While in Halifax, he performed as soloist with the orchestra on several occasions, including playing the Canadian premiere of Peter Lieberson’s Horn Concerto. He was a guest artist at various music festivals, including the Scotia Festival and the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival. Robert joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra as Associate Principal Horn in 2000 and was acting Principal in 2002-2003. He was a guest artist at the IHS Banff Horn Summit, Call of the Wild Horn Festival and has been active as a private teacher, coach of the Calgary Youth Orchestra and chamber musician. In 2003 he was appointed to Principal Horn of the CPO. |
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William Hopson has been a French Horn player in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 1977. He acquired his first Alphorn in 1982 and he has dedicated much of his professional life to that instrument. He is widely regarded as the finest Alphorn soloist of his generation. In his travels he has introduced the music of the Alphorn to audiences in North America, Europe and Asia.
William Hopson now spends a good part of his summers in Europe, where he performs in many Alphorn concerts and teaches at the Swiss Alphorn School in Gstaad, Switzerland and the Bregenzer Alphorn Seminar in Bregenz, Austria. Combining his talents as a craftsman and a musician, he founded Rocky Mountain Alphorns to hand build a limited edition of superior instruments for professional Horn players and discriminating enthusiasts. His Alphorns feature beautifully carved and painted artwork and are often trimmed with the stunning hardwoods he gathers from every corner the globe. William Hopson performs and records on a Rocky Mountain Alphorn made from Canadian Sitka Spruce with Hawaiian Koa Wood highlights. |
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Maxwell Stein joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2019/2020 season as the newly appointed 3rd Horn.
A native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Maxwell received his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Michigan where he studied with Adam Unsworth and Bryan Kennedy. He also completed one-year of study at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University under the tutelage of William VerMeulen. Maxwell has performed with numerous orchestras including the Detroit, Toledo, Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Ann Arbor Symphonies. He has participated in many summer institutes including The Interlochen Center for the Arts, The Banff Centre for Music, The Texas Music Festival and the Tanglewood Music Center in the fellowship program. |
Our guest artists at this year's Hornfest is made possible through the generosity of the Margaret Stephens Legacy Fund.
