Faculty Bios

Richard Seraphinoff, Professor of Horn

IU email: seraphin@indiana.edu

Richard Seraphinoff is professor of music in horn and natural horn at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he teaches modern horn, natural horn, and courses in brass literature as well as coaching chamber music. 

A native of Detroit, Michigan, he holds degrees in horn performance from Wayne State University and Indiana University. Among his horn teachers are Lowell Greer, Philip Farkas, Meir Rimon, Francis Orval, Eugene Wade, Michael Hatfield, and Myron Bloom.

Seraphinoff was the winner of the 1984 Erwin Bodky Early Music Competition and the 1981 Heldenleben Horn Competition. As a modern horn player he has performed with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Opera Theater and as extra and sub with the Detroit Symphony. As a Natural Hornist he has performed and recorded with nearly every Baroque and Classical orchestra in the U.S., including the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, the Smithsonian Chamber Players, the Grande Bande, Concert Royal, and Mozartean Players of New York, the Boston Handel and Haydn Society, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, The City Musick and Basically Bach of Chicago, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (San Francisco), Lyra Baroque  Orchestra, Indianapolis baroque orchestra, Apollo’s Fire of Cleveland, Opera Lafayette of Washington DC, and many others.

He has appeared as soloist at the Aston Magna Festival, with the Vancouver CBC Orchestra, Indianapolis baroque orchestra, and with La Stagione and Ensemble Metamorphosis in Germany. He has given lectures and master classes and appeared as guest recitalist at International Horn Symposiums and Historic Brass Society workshops in the United States and Europe, has written articles for the Historic Brass Society Journal, The Horn Call, and several other journals, and has recorded CDs with his own horn and string quartet group, Cornucopia. With co-author Linda Dempf he has written the Guide to the Solo Horn Repertoire published by Indiana University Press, and recently he has published his first full-length work of fiction, Corno da Capo, a historical novel written especially for horn players.

Seraphinoff is also a well-known maker of historical reproductions of Baroque and Classical Natural Horns, and teaches courses each summer in early brass instrument making techniques in Europe and the US. Since 1992 he has given summer workshops in Natural Horn history and performance at Indiana University, which have been attended by horn players from around the world.

Denise Tryon, Professor of Horn

IU email: dtryon@iu.edu

Denise Tryon is the Associate Professor of Horn at Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music. Since 2019, Tryon has been the 4th horn of the famed American Horn Quartet. Previously, Tryon was fourth horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra as well as holding positions with the Detroit, Baltimore, Columbus, and New World Symphonies. She also served as the Professor of Horn at both the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music from 2018 – 2023 and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore from 2007 – 2019.

“Denise Tryon’s command of the lower register provides the strongest foundation of sound for a horn section, and yet, her sound is supple and flexible.” —Yannick Nezet-Sequin, music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera

In 1989 Tryon graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and in 1993 received her Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Boston. She received the Presidential Scholarship while in the Artist Diploma Program at NEC with the Taiyo Wind Quintet, which won the Coleman Chamber Competition and worked with great composers such as John Harbison, Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, and Elliott Carter.

An active and accomplished educator, Tryon is sought after for her masterclasses. She has taught extensively in the United States, Scandinavia, Europe, Asia and South America. Beth Graham of the Baltimore Symphony and founder of the Warsaw Horn Workshops says, “In just a few seconds of listening to a student she can diagnose deep-seated problems and give immediate fixes, often with a healthy dose of humor as well. The transformations she can accomplish in just a short time are truly remarkable.” Tryon has been a featured artist at many International Horn Society (IHS) Symposiums and Regional Workshops. She has been a Featured Artist at the Nordic Hornfest, BIBA (Blekinge International Brass Academy), Warsaw Horn Workshops, CORNO Brass Music Workshop, Orford Winds, and Domaine Forget. Since 2017, she’s been a faculty member at Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Denver, CO. Frequently she is on faculty at Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra (NYO).

Tryon released her debut solo album, SO•LOW in 2015. As a part of this album, she commissioned 4 new pieces for low horn and piano. Said in a review by Gramophone Magazine “Tryon plays these works with sonorous fluidity and dexterity, ending with a bit of captivating acrobatics.” The American Prize awarded her with the Special Judges Citation for “Important Commitment to the Music of Our Time”.

A Pair of Aces, a duo horn album between Tryon and Karl Pituch, Principal Horn of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra was released in 2017. It won a Silver Medal in the Global Music Awards.

Hope Springs Eternal, Tryon’s second solo album, where she commissioned 6 new pieces for low horn, was released in 2020. The American Prize named Tryon and this album as the Winner for Instrumental Performance in 2022.

In 2009, Tryon founded Audition Mode, a yearly horn seminar, with Karl Pituch. The seminar focuses on the skills horn players need to be successful in orchestral auditions.

Sean Yancer, Visiting Professor of Horn

IU email: sayancer@iu.edu

Sean Yancer has served on the Horn Faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and as Lecturer of Music at Youngstown State University. Sean has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Columbus Symphony, Detroit Opera, and the NYC broadway pit orchestras of Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, and Man of La Mancha.

As a member of Trio SaeRon, Sean has commissioned, premiered, and recorded works for Horn, Soprano and Piano by under-represented composers, including a recital at the 2023 International Horn Symposium at Colorado State University.

Sean is in demand as a horn clinician, most recently presenting at Florida State University, Shenandoah Conservatory and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. His music degrees are from The Ohio State University (B.M.E.) and the University of Michigan (M.M), with additional graduate studies at SUNY Stony Brook and with internationally known horn pedagogue Frøydis Ree Wekre in Oslo, Norway.

Student Bios

Lizzie Cooksey, Associate Instructor of Horn

Lizzie Cooksey is a French Horn teaching artist from Louisville, Kentucky. She was the Adjunct Professor of Horn at Campbellsville University in 2023, and is a founding member of The Bourbon & Brass Company, the Indy 5, a Two Much Horns. Lizzie enjoys performing in a wide variety of ensembles in her community, and has performed with many orchestras in the Midwest, including the Louisville Orchestra, Louisville Ballet, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and the Butler Ballet. Lizzie has performed in festivals and competitions in the US and abroad including the International Women’s Brass Conference in 2022, the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in 2022, the Berlin Opera Academy (Germany) in 2022, and the Saluzzo Opera Academy (Italy) in 2021. She was the winning representative for the state of Kentucky in the 2021 MTNA Young Brass Artist Solo Competition.

Lizzie completed her master of music degree in music performance from the University of Louisville in 2021. She received her bachelor of music degree in music performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2018, during which she spent a semester and summer abroad studying in Vienna and Berlin. Lizzie is currently working toward her doctorate degree in music at the Jacobs School of Music in Denise Tryon’s studio where she serves as the Associate Instructor of Horn for the IU Horn Studio and Brass Department.

Lizzie is a composer and arranger, with her works being performed by a variety of musical groups, namely the Campbellsville University Faculty Brass Quintet, the UofL Horn Quartet, Indy 5, Two Much Horns, and the Bourbon & Brass Company. She teaches a private studio of hornists of varying ages, and enjoys performing works by underrepresented and emerging composers. In her time away from music, Lizzie enjoys cooking new inventive recipes, ballroom dancing, and leaning into her business side by learning with IU Innovates and the Venture Capital University.

https://bourbonbrasscompany.com/

IU email: emcookse@iu.edu

Sam Bangert is an incoming second year transfer student pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Horn Performance. He is incredibly excited to start studying under Professor Denise Tryon in the fall. He completed his freshman year at Northwestern University under Gail Williams and Jon Boen. Sam graduated from Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas where he studied under David Nowell. He enjoys music in all its aspects from orchestral to chamber and even solo playing. Most recently he attended the Brevard Music Center where he was a semi-finalist in the Soloists of Tomorrow concerto competition. He also attended Interlochen Arts Camp where he was a concerto competition finalist. He has also played in many other groups such as university ensembles, youth orchestras, and all state honor ensembles. Sam also has a passion for chamber music and takes every chance he gets to collaborate with other musicians in closer environments. In 2023 his brass quintet reached the junior division semifinals of the Fischoff Chamber Competition. Outside of music Sam enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends, and catching up on his favorite shows.

IU email: srbanger@iu.edu

Simon Boysen is a Sophomore Music Education major studying with Richard Seraphinoff. He is originally from North Bend Washington and went to Mount Si High School. During high school he participated in numerous honor bands, including the Western International Band Clinic, All-State and All-Northwest, and the Marrowstone Music Festival. His notable teachers include Mike Simpson, John Turman, and Jenna Breen. Since coming to IU, Simon has enjoyed preforming with various chamber ensembles, like the Big Red Horn Club where he works as the librarian. Outside of music, Simon enjoys poetry, coffee, and the outdoors.

IU email: sboysen@iu.edu

Logan Brown is a junior in the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying with Richard Seraphinoff. Logan has been studying horn for 12 years, gaining a passion for it while a young student at Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in South Florida. Over the years, he has attended many summer programs, including such in-depth programs as the Kendall Betts Horn Camp since 2018, Eastman Horn Intensive since 2020, and the Philadelphia International Music Festival. Logan has also been hired to perform at private events (such as weddings, charity events, and cocktail parties) including providing arrangements of songs as requested by the clients. This included arranging songs such as hymns and Disney themes to play as horn solos. For more information visit Logan’s website Loganbrownhorn.com

IU email: brownloe@iu.edu

Benjamin Carrero is a music education major studying under professor Seraphinoff. From the small town of Newburgh, Indiana, he was born and raised in the corn fields and has been a Hoosier for the last 17 years of his life, wanting to attend Indiana University for all of it. He is a two time Indiana all-state honor band participant and a gold with distinction soloist in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) state solo and ensemble competition. Benjamin graduated a year early from Castle High School as a salutatorian, electing to move on to higher education at IU. Ben was a member of the Castle Marching Band and show choir, loving group oriented activities every step of the way. Part of a family of six, spirited competition has always been part of his life. He has been involved in a variety of sports throughout his life, including but not limited to football, ultimate frisbee, and archery. Ben’s casual hobbies include pickleball, video games, and disc golf.

IU email: bcarrero@iu.edu

Originally from Maryland, horn player Sarah Dahlin was raised in a family of public-school music educators, sparking her early passion for music. Her love for orchestral performance took root at Interlochen Arts Camp in 2018, where she performed Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring—a formative experience that deepened her commitment to the art form.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah joined the Powerhouse Brass Quintet in Germantown, MD. Despite the unique challenges of that time, the ensemble found creative ways to rehearse and perform, reinforcing her desire to pursue a professional path in music.

Sarah earned her Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in May 2025, where she studied under Professor Jeff Nelsen. She is currently continuing her studies at IU, pursuing a Performer Diploma with Professor Denise Tryon.

IU email: sdahlin@iu.edu

Maddie Hogan knew she was going to play the French horn from the first moment she heard someone play it. Over a decade later, Maddie is a performer, teacher, and student in the Columbia, MO and Bloomington, IN areas. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in horn performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the musical mentorship of Professor Denise Tryon, where she has performed in the IU University and Concert Orchestras. She previously studied with Professor Amanda Collins at the University of Missouri – Columbia, where she obtained her B.M. in horn performance. While at the University of Missouri, Maddie performed with the MU Philharmonic Orchestra, MU Wind Ensemble, Mizzou Horn Choir, and MU Undergraduate Woodwind Quintet. Maddie has also performed with the Missouri Symphony, Odyssey Chamber Series, and Eastern Festival Orchestra. Maddie was a winner of the 2023 Emerging Artists Competition at the University of Missouri and subsequently performed in the Emerging Artists Gala. Throughout the years, she has performed at several festivals and conferences, including the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival in 2025, the Bay View Spectrum Brass Seminar in 2024, the Eastern Music Festival in 2022, and the National Intercollegiate Band in 2021.

As a private instructor, Maddie focuses on helping her students meet their personal goals while instilling in them a love of music. She has previously served as Treasurer, Editor, and Secretary for the Iota Lambda chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota.

IU email: madfhoga@iu.edu

Molly Frederick, an Illinois native, is a professional French horn player and freelancer. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana under the tutelage of Bernhard Scully where she was a recipient of the Thomas J. Smith scholarship. She went to earn her master’s degree from the University of Southern California where she studied with Julie Landsman. While at USC Molly was a recipient of both the Brass Chamber Music Award as well as the Vince De Rosa Award. Molly has had the opportunity to play with many prestigious groups across the country, including the Pacific Symphony, the 2017 Disneyland All-American College Band, associate of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, The Orchestra Now, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia de Camera and the Wheaton Municipal Band.

IU email: moafred@iu.edu

Kody Helbock is a second year under-graduate student from Long Island, New York, pursuing a double major in Horn Performance and Music Education under Professor Tryon. During the early years of his musical career, Kody was the first person from his hometown to be selected for the NYSBDA Honors ensembles, and performed with these ensembles for three consecutive years. He was seated principal for the All-State Band and Orchestra in the following years, and had the privilege to perform with the NAfME All-Eastern Band in 2023 at Kodak Hall. He is an alumni of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and had the incredible opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with this ensemble for three years. Through his opportunities, Kody has been requested for local horn lessons, and to perform with many local ensembles, including the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra and the Long Island Festival Orchestra. This past summer, he was a participant at the Domaine Forget Brass Intensive, and plans to continue to attend and travel for summer music opportunities. So far at the Jacobs School of Music, Kody has had the opportunity to perform with IU bands and chamber groups including the Concert Band, Marching Hundred, the Simply Brass Quintet, and Big Red Basketball Band, and he looks forward to many more exciting performances. Outside of music, he enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, snowboarding, and being outdoors.

IU email: khelbock@iu.edu

David Holloway is a third year undergraduate studying for his Bachelors of Music in Horn Performance with Denise Tryon. He is the current Principal Horn of Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony and was a 2023 orchestral fellow with Orchestra Next. David has experience performing with various festivals and part time ensembles including performances with the Cleveland Orchestra, and Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.

While in high school, he began studying the Horn with Bradley Gemeinhardt at The Juilliard Pre College and attended various summer music festivals. He began his time at Indiana University studying with Dale Clevenger. At university, David has performed with the school’s Symphony Orchestra, Conductors Orchestra, and was principal horn of the University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Outside of the horn, David takes pride in serving his community as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and is an avid cyclist and outdoor adventurer. In his down time he enjoys watching YouTube, playing video games, and shopping for second-hand apparel.

IU email: dshollow@iu.edu

Jacob Kessler is a native of Rolling Prairie, Indiana. He is currently studying his Master’s in Wind Conducting with IU Director of Bands, Dr. McKinney, as well as studying horn with Jeff Nelsen. Previously, Jacob was a Band Director at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Indiana for three years.

Jacob is no stranger to Indiana University as he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2021. During his time at IU, Jacob served as Drum Major of the IU Marching Hundred for the 2019 and 2020 season. He performed in a variety of ensembles including the IU Wind Ensemble and University Orchestra. Jacob also enjoyed performing in the Big Red Basketball Band and the Crabb Band.

Additionally, Jacob performed with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from 2018 through 2020, serving as mellophone section leader and horn sergeant. Currently, he serves as a mellophone instructor at Pacific Crest.

In his free time, Jacob loves to play video games, run, and hang out with his family and friends.

IU email: jalakess@iu.edu

Hannah Kittleson is an undergraduate horn student from Montana. She studied at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music for two years before transferring the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University to continue her studies with horn professor Denise Tryon in 2023. Since being at IU, Hannah has taken an interest in playing and performing on natural horn, joining Professor Seraphinoff’s natural horn class and performing in an IU ad hoc orchestra on the natural horn. Hannah has performed with various orchestras in Montana and in the Midwest. She has been a member of NYO2, won a concerto audition to perform with the CCM Concert Orchestra, been selected as a semifinalist of the Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition at the Grand Teton Music Festival, and won the Northwest Horn Symposium High School Solo Competition in 2019. Aside from horn playing, Hannah has a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and enjoys salsa dancing, jewelry making, and weight lifting!

IU email: hmkittle@iu.edu

Julia McConnachie (she/her) is a master’s student at the Jacobs School of Music studying with Denise Tryon. Originally from Shoreline, Washington, Julia fell in love with the horn thanks to her amazing teachers and directors in school and the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Horn Performance from Central Washington University, where she studied with Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker. During her time there, she was a part of both the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, including for the Wind Ensemble’s performance at the 2024 World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles conference. She was also a member of the CWU Horn Ensemble. Julia is working towards a career as an orchestral musician, and has enjoyed getting to work with many orchestras, including the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and Broadway Bound Summer Theatre. Julia is a two-time winner of the Northwest Horn Society’s University Solo Competition, and won the 2025 Central Washington University Concerto Competition. She can be heard as a soloist on the recording of the world premiere of Catherine Likhuta’s Bad Neighbours for two horn soloists and symphony orchestra. Outside of the practice room, Julia can be found enjoying long walks, embroidering, or thinking about Gustav Mahler.

IU email: jmcconna@iu.edu

Shaun Price is a first-year undergraduate student hailing from Odessa, Texas, studying under Denise Tryon while pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance. Before graduating from Permian High School, he studied with Sonja Millichamp and performed with numerous ensembles, including the TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band, WTAMU Honor Band, Lone Star Brass, and the West Texas Symphony. Besides horn playing, Shaun particularly enjoys fishing with his grandfather and exploring the outdoors, as well as haute cuisine, reading, and playing Soulsborne games.

IU email: shaupric@iu.edu

Jordan Reid is an incoming first-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Horn Performance. He is thrilled to continue his studies with Denise Tryon. Jordan comes from Ross, a small town near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he began his horn studies with Karen Schneider. A recent graduate of Ross High School, Jordan was actively involved in the concert band and choir, as well as extracurricular ensembles such as show choir, jazz band, and marching band. He has also been a participant of OMEA Honor Bands, Ohio All-State Orchestras, and the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra Philharmonic. Some of his hobbies are playing tennis, pickleball, ping pong, golf, disc golf, and piano. He is very excited for what IU has in store for him. Go Hoosiers!

IU email: reidjr@iu.edu

Alex Riley is a sophomore undergraduate student at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying music performance and biology. Alex is originally from the Cincinnati area. Alex has been under the tutelage of Mrs. Karen Schneider and Professor Jeff Nelsen. Outside of horn, Alex enjoys spending time with friends, studying new and interesting topics, and keeping up with sports.

IU email: ar108@iu.edu

Sean Roche is an incoming second year transfer student from St. Louis Missouri studying Horn Performance who is very much looking forward to his first year at IU. Sean completed his first year at the University of Missouri where he studied with Amanda Collins. In St. Louis Sean studied under Victoria Knudtson and Thomas Jostlein, and was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra for several years. At Mizzou he played in the MU Wind ensemble and Philharmonic as well as the horn choir. In high school Sean had the opportunity to play Strauss 1 with his wind ensemble and played in all state ensembles. He found his passion for the horn later than most but is excited to continue to grow as a player and as a person. Outside of music, Sean enjoys playing tennis, keeping up with sports, and spending time with people.

IU email: seaproch@iu.edu

Andi Rosin is a third-year horn student at Jacobs School of Music. They are working toward their Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Horn Performance. Andi was awarded first chair in the Iowa All State Band in 2022. They enjoy teaching young horn students and love finding contemporary pieces. Andi also enjoys crocheting, drawing, writing, reading, and spending time with their cat, Judd.

IU email: arosin@iu.edu

Piper Shiels (she/her) is a Canadian horn player studying at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Throughout the course of her musical career, Piper has won awards such as the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Graduate Tuition Scholarship, National Honour Award at MusicFest Canada, the Ethel Berney Jackson Scholarship, the Arthur Plettner Scholarship and the Ontario Gold Medal for her RCM studies in Horn performance.

Piper is currently working towards her Master of Music at Indiana University under the guidance of Denise Tryon and holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto. Her previous teachers include Chris Gongos, Nick Hartman and Dr. James Chilton. Piper has played with ensembles including the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, Hannaford Youth Band, Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra, Opera York, Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada, University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Band of Canada, where she was named Principal Horn.

Piper is a passionate music educator, an advocate for music education and is a member of the Ontario and Canadian Music Educators’ Associations as well as the Ontario Band Association. She was on staff at the National Music Camp of Canada where she taught horn, coached ensembles and served as a mentor for younger musicians. She is also working on research involving horn-related injuries and disability in music. Piper is a serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces as a musician in the Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada and the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa, where she played first horn in 2023 and 2024. In her free time, Piper enjoys traveling, attending concerts and collecting funky socks. For more information, please visit www.pipershiels.ca.

IU email: pshiels@iu.edu

Emily Sholar, a native of Tennessee, credits her middle school band director for her introduction to the horn. He presented it as an advancement from the trumpet, her original instrument of choice, and she never looked back. Emily began her studies with Belmont University’s horn professor, Tara Johnson, and remained under her instruction for six years. Emily received her Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance from Austin Peay State University under the tutelage of Dr. Kristen Sienkiewicz. In her third year of study at Austin Peay, Emily was selected as one of the two concerto competition winners for the Symphony Orchestra’s annual spring concert. Emily has been a grateful recipient of the Marlon and Linda Crow Music Endowment Scholarship and the Edington Family Scholarship in Music. She will begin her first year as a master’s student in the Jacobs School of Music studying with Professor Sean Yancer.

IU email: esholar@iu.edu

Ben Shugart is a first-year undergraduate student from Dallas, Texas, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance under the instruction of Denise Tryon. A graduate of Mansfield Lake Ridge High School, he studied horn with David Heyde and David Nowell, and performed with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the TMEA All-State Philharmonic Orchestra. Outside of horn performance, Ben enjoys music composition, drawing, and playing the piano in his free time.

IU email: benshuga@iu.edu

Sidney Smiley is a first-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance and is currently studying under Denise Tryon. She is from Austin, Texas, where she was a proud member of David Nowell’s high school horn studio. Sidney has performed with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Philharmonic, the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Interlochen Philharmonic, and the 2025 TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra. Outside of music, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her Great Pyrenees, Stella.

IU email: sidsmile@iu.edu

Carley Spencer is a second year Masters student currently studying under Denise Tryon. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Horn Performance from Northwestern State University in Louisiana and studied with Dr. Alexis Sczepanik and Dr. Kristine Coreil. During her time at NSU, Carley performed with several regional orchestras across the state such as the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. At her undergraduate university, she played with many collegiate groups such as the NSU Honor Winds, NSU Horn Choir and the NSU Horn Quartet, and was a featured soloist with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and the Northwestern State Wind Symphony. In 2023, she was part of the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, working with and performing in the Eastern Faculty Orchestra, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and Eastern Symphony Orchestra. The summer of 2024 was spent in Michigan working as a teacher, performer and camp counselor in Camp Bernstein at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. When away from the horn, Carley busies herself with whimsical hobbies or spending time with her loving husband and two cats.

IU email: cjo11@iu.edu

Anna Spitzenberger is a first-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance. Anna is from the Dallas, Texas area, where she graduated studying under Chris Dulin, a retired performer with the Dallas Opera. She has been part of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, performing in the Wind Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as performing with the Plano Senior High School Wind Ensemble at the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis. She also performed as Principal Horn of her high school’s Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, as well as serving as a drum major for the marching band. Anna won the John Philip Sousa Band Award in 2025 and is the founder of the Plano Senior High School Horn Choir. In her free time, Anna enjoys traveling, reading, and attending symphonies and musicals.

IU email: aspitzen@iu.edu

Harrison Tye is a third-year transfer student studying with Jeff Nelsen at Jacobs School of Music. Harrison is from Portland, Oregon and has been playing horn for over 10 years. He attended 13 years of public school in Oregon and won the State of Oregon horn solo competition his Junior and Senior years. During his early music career, Harrison was a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic, where he was principal horn for three years. He attended college for two years at Oregon State University, where he studied with Jeff Garza, principal horn for the Oregon Symphony. During his time at Oregon State he subbed for many orchestras, including Bozeman Symphony in Montana and the Eugene Symphony in Oregon. Harrison played solos for local orchestras in Corvallis during both years of his undergraduate program at Oregon State. Throughout his music career, Harrison taught young musicians all over Oregon to enjoy the horn as much as he does. In addition to playing the horn, Harrison enjoys long runs and hikes, building with LEGO, listening to classical music and classic rock from the 70’s and 80’s.

IU email: hdtye@iu.edu

Anna Voros is a junior in the IU Jacobs School of Music, studying with Denise Tryon. She is currently pursuing a BSOF in horn performance and education. Anna is originally from Indiana and spent her formative years between South Bend, IN and Leamington, ON Canada. In her time at Jacobs she has played in chamber groups, orchestra, band, and the Big Red Horn Club. She has spent her summers at music festivals such as the National Music Festival and the Vienna Summer Music Festival. She hopes to share her passion for music through performance and teaching.

IU email: avoros@iu.edu

Abigail (Abby) Webster is a current master’s student in Professor Seraphinoff’s studio doing a double major in horn performance and music theory. Before coming to Bloomington, Abby attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. During her time there, Abby played in a variety of ensembles including the NAU Symphony Orchestra, the NAU Wind Symphony, the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, and a variety of other community ensembles. In addition to Western classical music, Abby has also dabbled in klezmer music and learned a variety of different methods of horn playing and other musical skills (such as arranging, conducting, etc.)

Abby’s current research interests include transformational theory in terms of the harmonic series of the horn, in addition to some video game and film music. Outside of the practice room, Abby loves teaching introductory theory and aural skills classes, and loves hanging out with her cat Charles.

IU email: abigwebs@iu.edu

William Wilems (he/him) is a horn performance major in the second year of his undergrad under Richard Seraphinoff. Will began playing horn in elementary school while living in The Woodlands, Texas before moving to Sammamish, Washington. While in the Seattle area, he has studied with the likes of Paulette Altman, Gina Gillie, and John Turman. Will has played principal horn in the Bellevue and Tacoma Youth Symphonies, performed concerti with his high school orchestra, was selected to perform with the WMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and earned a superior rating at state Solo and Ensemble. Outside of horn, Will likes to Hike, Travel, Cook, and hit the gym.

IU email: wwilems@iu.edu 

Jacob Wiley is a second year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Horn Performance, and is currently studying under Denise Tryon. Originally from Texas, he graduated from Midway High School and is a proud former member of David Nowell’s private studio through high school. He has performed with many prestigious ensembles, including the TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra, the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, the World Youth Wind Symphony, the Round Top Festival Orchestra, the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Temple Symphony Orchestra, and IU Orchestras. He also enjoys performing various chamber works, including brass and wind quintet, as well as performing the Brahms Horn Trio the past summer. Outside of music, Jacob’s interests include thrifting at local secondhand shops, playing retro video games, and watching extensive movie and television series.

IU email: jafwiley@iu.edu

Melia Wright is an incoming freshman at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for the fall of 2025. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Music in Performance degree under the guidance of Denise Tryon.

Melia is a native Hoosier; she is from Fishers, IN and graduated from Fishers High School. She spent her time playing her horn in every ensemble she found herself, while also being a drum major for her marching band. Throughout her time at FHS, Melia was also heavily involved with countless programs at both the state and national level. Some of the most notable include: Atlanta Horn Festival (2024, 2025), IMEA Indiana All-State Orchestra (2023, 2024, 2025), Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Side-By-Side (2025), IBA All-State Honor Band (2024, 2025), and the New England Conservatory of Music Summer Orchestra Institute (2024).

Throughout her life, Melia has previously studied horn with two IU horn alumni; Lauren Lavy, Class of 2017, who studied with previous IU horn professor Dale Clevenger and current IU Professor of Horn Richard Seraphinoff; and Sydney Ballensky, Class of 2023, who studied with previous IU horn professor Jeff Nelsen. Melia’s high school band director, Elijah Gardner, was a Class of 2023 graduate in Music Education from IU as well.

In her free time, Melia enjoys traveling, thrifting, and photography. Back in Fishers, she has a cat and dog that she loves dearly; their names are Leo and Zoey.

IU email: wrigmelo@iu.edu

Elijah Yocum is a third-year Undergraduate studying under Richard Seraphinoff. Originally from Chesapeake Virginia, performing as principal Horn in the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia All-State Orchestra. During his summers post-high school, he interned with the Tidewater Winds Professional Concert Band and the Virginia Wind Symphony where he was offered to perform with them for the coming season. He has also taught a middle school Horn camp and attended the Bayview Music Festival with members of his Brass Quintet at IU. At IU he has performed serious repertoire with the Philharmonic and University Orchestras, even picking up Wagner Tuba for the premiere of Mason Bates’ Opera: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, as well as premiering student compositions.

IU email: eyocum@iu.edu