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Welcome
Welcome from Dr. Steven Gross and the Horn Studio
at the University of California at Santa Barbara! UCSB offers high-quality
horn instruction and playing opportunities in the context of a major
comprehensive university.
Dr. Gross is the only full-time horn teacher in
the University of California system. Our beachside campus is located
just 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Feel free to contact us!
Current Students
Click
here to see photos of current Horn Studio students.
Professor Gross Biography
Dr. Steven Gross is Professor of Horn and Director
of the Wind, Brass and Percussion Program, as well as a former member
of the Atlanta Symphony, National Symphony, and the Santa Fe Opera
Orchestra. His international solo appearances include those with
the Orchester der Stadt Vöcklabruck in Austria, Royal Academy
of Music in London, Moscow Conservatory, L'Abri International Arts
Festival in Switzerland, Nairobi Symphony in Kenya, NTUA Wind Ensemble
in Taiwan, and the Camerata Filarmonia Bohemia of Prague. His Carnegie
Hall debut was described by the New York Concert Review as, "...offering
some of the cleanest articulation and purest musicality...a listenable,
bravura display of instrumental technique."
Dr. Gross has released three solo CDs with orchestra
on the Summit label: Strauss, Masterpieces for Horn and Strings,
and Baroque.com, all conducted by Dale Clevenger. Reviews
from the American Record Guide describe his playing as “outstanding,
striking the right balance between thoughtfulness and verve, planning
and spontaneity…an excellent tone and the ability and temperament
to play heroically.” Horn Call magazine states that the “soloist
plays technically flawlessly and highly expressively throughout…Highly
recommended.” His discography includes recordings on the Telarc,
Hyperion, Koch, Pro Arte, CRI, and ACA Digital labels.
In 2008, Dr. Gross was awarded the Stich-Punto
Commemorative Plaque from the Czech Horn Society for outstanding
devotion to Czech horn music. He is only the second American to
receive this award.
Dr. Gross is principal horn of Opera Santa Barbara,
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and the Santa Maria Philharmonic.
During summers he is principal horn of the Oregon Coast Festival
Orchestra, and faculty for the MasterWorks Festival. During his
recent sabbatical he was Visiting Professor of Horn at the National
Taiwan University for Arts (NTUA).
Listen to the Strauss
Horn Concerto No. 2 first movement from his CD Strauss
(DCD 441, used with permission from Summit Records). Dr. Gross performs
with the Philharmonia Orchestra of Bratislava and Dale Clevenger,
conductor.
Audition Requirements
Bachelor of Music (BM) Degree
Note: Application deadline is November
30.
UCSB Music Department auditions are held the last weekend of January,
or by arrangement with Dr. Gross. Recordings are accepted, although
a campus visit is encouraged.
Play two contrasting etudes or solos, and an orchestral excerpt
of your choice.
Graduate Degrees
The admisssions deadline is January
15. All applications, supplemental materials and test scores
must be received by this date if you wish to be considered for admission
and financial aid. Applications received after this date will be
considered for scholarships as funds are available.
If not applying for financial aid, graduate application deadlines are:
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May 1 of the previous year for Fall Quarter |
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November 1 for Winter Quarter |
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February 1 for Spring Quarter |
UCSB Music Department auditions are held the last
weekend of January, or by arrangement with Dr. Gross. In person
auditions are required for graduate degrees.
Master of Music (MM) Degree Audition Requirements
Play a solo comparable to Richard Strauss Concerto
No. 1 or Mozart Concerto No. 2, and prepare all
of the following orchestral excerpts:
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Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, Scherzo, first horn
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Brahms, Symphony No. 1, second movement solo,
first horn |
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Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel, opening solo, first
horn |
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Weber, Der Freischutz, Overture, fourth horn |
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Degree Audition
Requirements
The following four parts comprise the DMA audition
requirements:
1.) An unaccompanied solo of your choice.
2.) Your choice of a complete concerto: Richard
Strauss Concerto No. 2, Othmar Schoek Concerto Op.
65, Gordon Jacob Concerto, or comparable work. Please
check with Dr. Gross if you wish to play an alternate concerto.
In the event that you are not able to bring your own accompanist,
we will make every effort to provide one.
3.) Prepare all of the following orchestral excerpts:

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Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, Scherzo-Trio, second
horn (mm. 171-205) |

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Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, first movement, first
horn
(mm. 84-110) |
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Brahms, Symphony No. 3, slow movement, first horn
solo |
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Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, first movement,
low tutti passage |
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Strauss, Ein Heldenleben, first horn solo from
opening through #2 |
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Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5, second movement,
first horn solo |
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Wagner, Siegfried's Rhine Journey, short call |
4.) Interview with faculty. Be prepared to discuss your research
interests.
Visiting Artists and Workshops
UCSB has hosted the Great Western Horn
Symposium, American Horn Competition,
and the Dale Clevenger Workshop. A partial
list of guest artists appearing on campus include:
Performance Opportunities
UCSB hornists perform in two major ensembles, the
University Symphony Orchestra and the Wind Ensemble. Both groups
operate on the philosophy of one player per part. Assignments are
rotated so that all musicians receive a variety of performing opportunities.
The Symphony's season includes concerts with major orchestral repertoire,
a fully staged opera, and a concerto program. Other groups include
the Ensemble for Contemporary Music (ECM), and various chamber music
ensembles. All ensembles present at least one quarterly concert.
The Maurice Faulkner Brass Quintet
is comprised of the leading brass players on campus. Members are
selected by audition, and receive scholarship stipends. The quintet
has toured throughout California, and recorded in the University's
Kerr Hall studios. The ensemble is named for the late Dr. Maurice
Faulkner, famed UCSB brass performer and teacher. The scholarships
are generously funded by his widow, Suzanne Faulkner.
A weekly Brass Repertoire Class
explores major orchestral literature. This class also includes mock
auditions, guided listening, preparing resumes, and field trips.
A weekly Master Class / Horn
Ensemble supplements horn study at UCSB. The Horn Ensemble
tours throughout California and neighboring states and performs
at workshops, most recently Hornswoggle in New Mexico
and the Western U.S. Horn Symposium in Nevada.
Scholarships
The following scholarships are available to horn
students at UCSB. Unless noted otherwise, a separate application
is not required.
Bachelor of Music (BM)
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Maurice Faulkner Brass Scholarships |
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Excellence at Entrance Awards
(requires separate application) |
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Regents' Scholarships
(academic emphasis; requires separate application) |
Master of Music (MM)
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Maurice Faulkner Brass Scholarships |
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Music Department Graduate Awards |
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

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Maurice Faulkner Doctoral Horn Fellowship |
Contact Information
Prospective Undergraduate Students
Adela Contreras
Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Music
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070
Phone: (805) 893-5672
Fax: (805) 893-7194
E-mail: acontreras@music.ucsb.edu
Prospective Graduate Students
David Holmes
Graduate Advisor
Department of Music
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070
Phone: (805) 893-4603
Fax: (805) 893-7194
E-mail: dholmes@music.ucsb.edu
Music Department Website
http://www.music.ucsb.edu
Dr. Steven Gross
Department of Music
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070
Phone: (805) 893-7632
Fax: (805) 893-7194
E-mail: gross@music.ucsb.edu
Links to Some Popular Horn Sites
COMPREHENSIVE
International Horn Society |
Information,
news, features, links, advertisements and classifieds, networking,
discussion and chat room, e-mail directory, miscellaneous.
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Horn Planet |
The
Welcome Center, The Golden Horn, Bacon Profile, Horn Page,
Horn Planet Store, Opus 90, St. Louis Brass, Music to My Mouth,
and Links. By leading hornist Tom Bacon. |
COMPETITIONS
CALIFORNIA
Bob
Ward's Homepage |
Current events and discussion from the perspective
of the Associate Principal Horn of the San Francisco Symphony.
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| The Bay Brass |
The aim of the group, a cooperative of
players from the San Francisco Bay Area's leading performing
organizations, is to present both large-scale symphonic brass
ensemble works and compositions for smaller combinations of
players in acoustics which complement the wonderful sound
of brass. |
| Wendell Rider's
Homepage |
Great photographs and discussion
from the former Principal Horn of the now-defunct San Jose
Symphony (they've re-formed as Symphony Silicon Valley). |
INTERNATIONAL
British Horn Society |
Events, announcements, and
membership information. Links to other international societies
and ensembles. |
Hans Pizka's Homepage |
Comprehensive compendium of
information, including biographies, from Munich Opera Orchestra
hornist Hans Pizka. |
INFORMATIONAL
Julia
Rose's Master Class Notes |
Information from master classes
featuring famous horn and brass artists. |
Ron
Boerger's Home Page (The Horn Player's FAQ) |
Frequently asked questions and discussions about the horn. |
Horn Articles Online |
Articles on performance, literature,
design and history of the horn. Fine scholarship source. Edited
by Dr. John Ericson. |
ClassicalNet: Ensembles & Orchestras |
Comprehensive world listing
of orchestras and chamber ensembles, including audition information.
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Hornplayer.net |
Information archive, listings
of horn sections worldwide, horn tutors and bios, classified
ads, links. |
International
Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians |
Professional organization created
by members of leading orchestras in the United States. Information
on symphony negotiations, salary scales, working conditions,
etc. |
Dick Martz's Collection of Strange and Wonderful Horns |
Collection of horns, showing
history of the instrument. Photos and commentary. |
Embouchures.com |
Attractive and thorough resource
for those experiencing embouchure difficulties. |
Copyright © 2006-2009 University of California–Santa
Barbara. All rights reserved.
Website by Julie Callahan.
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Dr. Steven Gross, Professor of Horn
and Director of the Wind, Brass,
and Percussion Program at UCSB.
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Dr. Gross rehearsing at Carnegie Recital Hall
with Dr. Louise Thomas, piano.
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Dr. Gross teaching at the Royal
Academy
of Music in London. |
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Froydis Wekre coaches a
UCSB undergraduate student.
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Dale Clevenger coaches
a UCSB graduate student.
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Clinicians Kathy Eisner (former N.Y. City
Opera Orchestra player),
Alex Camphouse (U.S. Air Force Band
of the Golden West),
Dr. James Winter (past President, I.H.S.),
Michael Hatfield (Indiana University),
Fred Fox (retired studio player and teacher).
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Dale Clevenger with leading
film composer Bruce Broughton.
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Professional natural horn club performance
at UCSB during the
American Horn Competition (now known as
the International Horn Competition of America)
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Professor Richard Rintoul
conducting the UCSB Symphony Orchestra. |
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Professor Paul Bambach conducting
the UCSB Wind Ensemble.
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The Maurice Faulkner Brass
Quintet
posing for a picture on the beach next to
the Marine Biology Laboratory on campus.
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The Maurice Faulkner Brass
Quintet visits
Yosemite National Park while on tour
in Northern California. |
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UCSB Horn Studio players at
the Grand Canyon. |
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UCSB Horn Ensemble recording
at Kerr Hall. |
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UCSB horn students work with
James Decker
in the IVASI demonstration room
at the Western U.S. Horn Symposium
in Las Vegas, NV. |
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UCSB campus as seen from the University Lagoon
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View of Goleta pier at sunset. |
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Lagoon Road on campus, driving
toward Campus Point. |
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Another view of Goleta beach
and pier just before sunset. |
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Sunset over Campus Point. |
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