Instrumental studies
Horn

Students from all over the world are trained to become professional horn players, prepared for careers in leading orchestras. They are preceded by musicians such as Adriaan van Woudenberg, Jacob Slagter (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), Hubert Crüts (Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne) and Erich Penzel.

The Bachelor’s programme focuses on developing strong technical and musical skills, with emphasis on solo repertoire, chamber music, and orchestral playing. In the Master’s programme, the focus shifts towards artistic identity and musical excellence across styles from Baroque to contemporary music.

In both programmes, students are trained in audition preparation for orchestras and international competitions. Class concerts with piano accompaniment and ensemble playing (4 to 18 horn players) develop flexibility and essential collaborative skills for professional orchestral life.

The teaching team, Willy Bessems (Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne) and Will Sanders (Professor, Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe; formerly Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Bayreuth Festival Orchestra), combine extensive orchestral, operatic, and chamber music experience.

Annual masterclasses are given by leading international artists such as Günther Högner, Hermann Baumann, Radovan Vlatković, André Cazalet, Radek Baborák, Guido Corti, Stefan Dohr, and Andrew Bain. Alumni currently work in top orchestras worldwide, including the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra, NDR Symphony Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra, as well as at leading music universities.