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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, in addition, 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!
Biography
Steven Gross, Professor of Horn and Director of the Wind, Brass
& Percussion Program, is 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 Vocklabruck
in Austria, the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Moscow Conservatory,
L'Abri International Arts Festival in Switzerland, and the Nairobi
Symphony in Kenya. 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."
He has recorded the Britten Serenade with the Camerata
Indianapolis; a Baroque CD with the Capella Istropolitana of Slovakia;
and the concerti of Richard and Franz Strauss with the
Philharmonia Orchestra of Bratislava, which Summit Records released
in February of 2006. His discography includes recordings on the
Telarc, Hyperion, Koch, ProArte, CRI and ACA
Digital labels.
Dr. Gross is Principal Horn of both Opera Santa Barbara and the
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and a member of the Oregon Coast Festival
Orchestra. In Fall 1996 he served in the place of Professor Myron
Bloom at Indiana University. Dr. Gross has also appeared with the
Denver Symphony (also known as the Colorado Symphony).
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. Tapes are accepted, although a campus visit is encouraged.
Play two contrasting etudes or solos, and an orchestral excerpt of your choice.
Master of Music (MM) Degree
Priority scholarship and financial aid consideration is given to applications received by February 15. 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. Personal auditions are required for graduate degrees.
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
To be introduced Fall 2009
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.
Horn Ensemble
A weekly Master Class or 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)
To be introduced Fall 2009
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. |
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 Q. Ericson. |
ClassicalNet: Ensembles & Orchestras |
Comprehensive world listing of orchestras and chamber ensembles, including audition information. |
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 © 2006-2008 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 Paul Bambach conducting
the UCSBWind 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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