French Horn Day

On Sunday, long-standing Wells french horn teacher, Simon de Souza, and a trio of talented professional musicians, all his former students, led over 30 enthusiastic horn players of all ages and standards in an exciting day of horn related activities. 

Simon was joined by Dave Oxley, Principal West End theatre player and Old Wellensian; Becca Holman, a more recent Old Wellensian and former Graduate Music Assistant at Wells; and Andrew Budden who studied with Simon at the Purcell School before becoming a busy freelance principal horn in London, a regular guest principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Warm ups, masterclasses, recitals by the tutors and lots of ensemble playing culminated in a mass blow through Beethoven’s Egmont Overture with every horn player in the building – a sound which tested the ancient fabric of Quilter Hall to its limits! Specialist horn makers Paxman had brought their display stand for the musicians to peruse; whilst the farthest traveled participant had trekked down from Fort William in the Scottish Highlands to take part!