The Western Illinois Horn Festival of 2008 honored the career and work of one of the great mentors of the horn world--Michael Hatifield-- who taught the horn for decades at Indiana University, the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and the Aspen Music Festival –as well as a long performing career as a symphony hornist at Aspen, Indianapolis, and over two decades as Principal Hornist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. As a long-standing teacher of national reputation several of his former students, significant colleagues and a number of outstanding students participated in the Festival to honor Michael Hatfield. Among these Contributing Artists were the following:

• Charles Waddell of Ohio State University and the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra
• Randy Gardner-Horn Professor at the Cincinnati Conservatory and previously of the Philadelphia Orchestra
• Dr. Richard Chenoweth, Horn Professor at the University of Dayton, Principal Hornist of the Dayton Philharmonic, and hornist with the Santa Fe Opera
• Richard Seraphinoff—Natural Horn scholar and builder and Horn Professor at Indiana University
• Darin Sorley –horn builder and Adjunct Instructor of Horn at the University of Indianapolis
• Leelanee Sterrett— prize Winner, University Division of the International Horn Competition of America
• Lee Kessinger—horn Instructor, Augustana College and St. Ambrose University
• Roger Collins—Horn Professor Emeritus of Western Illinois University
• Barbara Hunter—Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
• The Indiana University Horn Ensemble—conducted by Kurtis Henderson
• Coached by Jeff Nelsen-horn professor at Indiana University
• Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter-horn professor at Kansas State University

Several significant Western Illinois University Alumni also performed on the Final Concert:

• Barbara Hutchins, who had also studied with Michael Hatfield-after studying with Roger Collins at Western Illinois University
• Laurel Filzen Etzel-conductor of the Knox-Sandburg Concert Band
• Hornist with The Knox-Galesburg Symphony, Sherrill Filzen-horn instructor at Knox College
• Jerry Beck-2005 WIU Graduate who has performed with the Quad Cities, Peoria, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras

The Horn Festival included:

• A Panel on Horn Teaching-including Michael Hatfield, Richard Chenoweth, Lee Kessinger, Richard Seraphinoff, Charles Waddell and Randy Gardner.
• Horn Ensemble Rehearsals-THE FESTIVAL HORN CHOIR--Conducted by Michael Hatfield, Artist Horn Ensembles-including works by Randall Faust-ROMANZA from the Horn Quartet commissioned by Randy Gardner for the compact disc co-produced by Michael Hatfield, and Memoirs and Souvenirs for Horn Octet
• A Matinee Recital-opening with a performance of the Konzertstück, by Robert Schumann by WIU Hornists John Reem, Robert Palmer, Amber Dean, and Justin Davis, Performances by WIU hornist Amber Dean, Contributing Artists Leelanee Sterrett, Richard Chenoweth, Charles Waddell, and Randy Gardner.

THE FESTIVAL LECTURE-by Michael Hatfield – Sharing the Legacy:

During the course of this hour, Michael Hatfield shared his legacy with the assembled Festival audience:

• His study with legendary teachers Phillip Farkas, Verne Reynolds, and Christopher Leuba
• His performing experiences with the Indianapolis Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, and the Aspen Festival Orchestra
• His collaboration with outstanding colleagues at the Cincinnati Conservatory and Indiana University

His collaboration with colleagues on special projects-including the compact disc-Shared Reflections-The Legacy of Phillip Farkas, and something quite significant for the assembled students:

His experiences making the transition from that of a student to that of the professional hornist.

A Master Class presented by Michael Hatfield – with student hornists-Lauren Dow from Peoria, Lauren Reinhard from Joliet, and Sara Giovanelli from Urbana. Jason Aquila distinguished himself in is deft reading of James Beckel's The Glass Bead Game during Ms. Giovanelli's performance. At the close of the MASTER CLASS-Michael Hatfield was presented a plaque in Honor of his lifetime of work as a hornist and teacher, as well as the featured hornist at the Western Illinois Horn Festival. Letters of testimony were read from Douglas Hill-University of Wisconsin, Steven Gross-University of California-Santa Barbara and General Director, the International Horn Competition of America, Robin Dauer-Horn Professor Arkansas State University, Jack Dressler-Murray State University, and Jeffrey Snedeker-President of the International Horn Society. The session closed with a special tribute performance of Puccini's Nessun Dorma by hornist Randy Gardner and pianist Jason Aquila.

The Grand Finale Recital including Leelanee Sterrett-prizewinner of the International Horn Competition of America from The University of Wisconsin, Alphornists, Lee Kessinger (Quad Cities), and Amber Dean (WIU)., The Michael Hatfield Alumni and Friends Horn Ensemble, the Indiana University Horn Ensemble conducted by Kurtis Henderson, the WIU Horn Ensemble-accompanied by Michael Hatfield and the Guest Artist Ensemble and the Festival Horn Choir.

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Program Information

• 2008 WIUHF Program (PDF)
• 2008 WIUHF Poster (PDF)

Hatfield Ensemble at WIUHF 2008

*Teaching Panel WIUHF 2008

Richard Chenoweth and Eric Funk at WIUHF2008