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.

Jeff Nelsen, Professor of Horn 

IU email: jnelsen@indiana.edu

One of the many Canadian magician horn performing professors in the world who was raised on a pig farm with opera-singer parents, Jeff Nelsen is in his eighteenth IU year messing with young hornists minds while trying to trick them into reaching their dreams. As a performer, Jeff is probably best known for his concert tours and recordings as the hornist with the Canadian Brass. He is in his fourteenth year performing worldwide with the ensemble.

Jeff continues to perform as a soloist and has performed concerti with orchestras on six continents. Jeff began his 30-year professional performing career as a full-time orchestral hornist winning three Fourth Horn auditions (Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg…an eternal low-hornist at heart!). He also won the Principal Horn audition with the Vancouver Symphony but accepted the offer to join the Canadian Brass instead. Jeff continues to perform in horn sections of dozens of orchestras, including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the Boston, Chicago, National (D.C.), St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Montreal Symphonies, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His latest 2023 orchestral performances were with the Chicago Symphony (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone! Way too much fun!) and the Cincinnati Symphony (Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, less ‘fun’ but incredible just the same…).

A huge Broadway musical fan, Jeff played the complete run of two Broadway shows in NYC that were nominated for Tony awards: “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (Sherman Brothers) and “The Pirate Queen” (Boublil and Schöneberg – show and cast recording as well). Jeff has toured with Michael Bolton and Barry Manilow, has recorded with Michael Buble and the pop band “Barenaked Ladies,” and has performed on numerous movie and video game soundtracks (including a Halo soundtrack!). In addition to the couple dozen CD recordings with Canadian Brass, he has commissioned and recorded Anthony DiLorenzo’s “Gemini”, the title track of a recording which also has Jeff playing Jim Beckel’s “Glass Bead Game”. Jeff has also recorded the Brahms Horn Trio Op. 40 and a trio rework of the Mozart Horn Quintet K. 407.

Jeff maintains an active performance schedule here at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, performing in a variety of faculty chamber recitals. Perhaps his richest opportunity for contribution and learning in life is fulfilled through his role as Professor of Horn here at IU, where he teaches full-time as a horn, chamber music, and performance coach. In addition to Hoosier-horn-helping by day, Jeff is founder of Fearless Performance LLC, a company that focuses on training musicians and professionals in all walks of life to transcend their limited self-worth illusions and discover how to consistently prepare and perform their absolute best in order to reach their goals. He gave his celebrated Ted Talk about Fearless Performance in 2011, hosted the Indiana University Ted Talk in 2018, and continues to train fellow Ted Talkers to perform their best too. As an active entrepreneur, Jeff has partnered with Dr. Katy Carnaggio to create Elevate!, an online performance community and course collective. He publishes a collection of sheet music through his company Perform Music, co-designed a line of mouthpieces with Scott Laskey and co-designed his 180K-JN horn with Dieter Otto’s Martin Ecker. Jeff is also a past president of the International Horn Society.

Aside from creating musical magic, Jeff is an enthusiastic magician and often adds touches of illusionary arts to performances. He recently reached a childhood dream of becoming a magician member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the world-famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles. His most magical time is spent with his enchanting mezzo-soprano wife Nina and two spellbinding sons pianist Rhys and Gorilla Tag master Blair. www.jeffnelsen.com

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.

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, a Louisville-based brass quintet, and the Indy 5, a Bloomington-based brass quintet. 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, 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 about Venture Capital through the IU Venture Fellowship Program.

https://bourbonbrasscompany.com/

IU email: emcookse@iu.edu

Joseph Bagdovitz is an accomplished horn player from Vancouver, Wasington. He recently finished undergraduate study at Central Washington University. Previous teachers have included Jeff Fair, David Johnson, and Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker. He has performed professionally with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestra, and Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. Other notable experiences include performances with the Schweizer Jugend-Sinfonie-Orchester, Orchestre di Fiati della Svizzera Italiana, a tour concert at the Kennedy Center with the CWU Symphony Orchestra, as a featured soloist with the CWU Wind Ensemble, guest hornist with CWU Jazz 1, and pit musician at the Aquilion Music Festival. Joseph won the Low Horn Mock Audition at the 2019 Northwest Horn Symposium and studied abroad for a semester in Lugano, Switzerland. In addition to performing, Joseph is highly interested in the field of teaching horn lessons. He is hoping to one day have a large private studio of young hornists. In his spare time Joseph enjoys playing online games with friends, hiking, and traveling.

IU email: jjbagdov@iu.edu

Simon Boysen is a Freshman Music Education student 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. As a soloist, he has performed at Washington state Solo and Ensemble three times, earning a superior rating each time. His notable teachers include Mike Simpson, John Turnamn, and Jenna Breen. Outside of music, Simon enjoys poetry, and the outdoors spending a lot of time hiking in the Snoqualmie Valley.

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

Jake Buckner is a Performance Diploma student studying under Denise Tryon. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Jake earned his Bachelor of Music at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, where he studied under Gavin Reed. Afterwards, he went on to Indiana University and received his Master of Music degree under the tutelage of Dale Clevenger, Denise Tryon, and Sean Yancer.

During his time at Jacobs, Jake has enjoyed the opportunity to play with the Philharmonic, Concert, and University Orchestras. In 2017, Jake attended the Fresno Opera and Orchestra Summer Academy, where he performed symphonic works and studied horn with Lanette Compton. Additional festival orchestras Jake has been a part of include the Philadelphia International Music Festival Orchestra in 2019, and the AIMS Festival Orchestra in 2022, in Graz, Austria.

IU email: jabuckne@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

Sarah Dahlin is a member of Studio Nelsen working towards her bachelor’s in music performance and is originally from Damascus, Maryland. Before IU, she participated in the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Honor Band of America. At IU, from the ensembles she has been in so far, she has particularly enjoyed being a part of the Chamber Orchestra because its small number of musicians allows for a wider dynamic envelope and a cleaner, more tight-knit sound. She has also been included in the Unsung Opera project which works to perform and record historical operas written by women. On Sundays, she can be found in the worship music team at Hope Presbyterian Church. During breaks from school, she enjoys playing chamber music with her trombone-playing family and working at her local hardware store.

IU email: sdahlin@iu.edu

Ethan Hiner-Stolhand is a performer, composer, educator, and collaborative artist based in Boise, Idaho. As a versatile performer of classical, baroque, and jazz genres, Ethan regularly performs with ensembles throughout the greater Treasure Valley, including the Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho, Boise Baroque Orchestra, McCall Musicfest Symphony, and the Brass Band of the Treasure Valley. He is an active member of the community and frequently performs with various chamber ensembles and community orchestras throughout the valley in addition to his professional work.

Maddie Hogan knew she was going to play the French horn from the first moment she heard 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. She previously studied with Professor Amanda Collins at the University of
Missouri – Columbia, where she obtained her B.M. in horn performance. Maddie has performed
with the Missouri Symphony, Odyssey Chamber Series, Eastern Festival Orchestra, MU
Philharmonic Orchestra, Mizzou Horn Choir, MU Wind Ensemble, and MU Undergraduate
Woodwind Quintet. 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, Maddie has performed at several festivals and conferences, including 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 and is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+
rights.

IU email: madfhoga@iu.edu

Simon Field is a current horn student of Jeff Nelsen at IU. Before coming to IU, Simon began his Horn journey in the beautiful city of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where he studied with Kathryn Krubsak and Dietrich Hemann. While at IU, Simon has gotten the chance to play numerous symphonies, operas and other symphonic pieces. He has attended music festivals such as the Brevard Music Clinic and The Music for All National Orchestra. Along with performing, Simon has a hobby of arranging music for french horn. Some of which, has been played by IU’s very own Big Red Horn Club. For more information, visit: www.simonfield.xyz.

IU email: simfield@iu.edu

Clarisse Finman is a second year masters student from Sequim, Washington. She received her bachelor’s in horn performance in 2021 from the University of Idaho, and has been enjoying the last two years in Bloomington. She had the opportunity to be principal horn in the symphonic band and wind ensemble at IU. She served as 2nd horn in the University of Idaho orchestra, performed with the opera there, and participated in the wind ensemble while living in Idaho. She performed with the IWash Symphony, and was in the pit for musicals in the Lewiston/Clarkston area. Other than her passion for music, Clarisse loves to be outdoors rock climbing, hiking, on the water, or exploring her surroundings.

IU email: cfinman@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

Tyler H. Goodwin-Souffront is a third year Doctor in Music student in Horn Literature and Pedagogy at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University studying with Professor Denise Tryon. Goodwin-Souffront has received previous degrees from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro (M.M. Music Performance) and Furman University (B.M. in Music Performance and Music Composition, m.A. in Film Studies). Additionally, he has studied with Dale Clevenger, Andrew Bain (as an inaugural member of Invested Musician), Jeff Nelsen, Richard Seraphinoff, Tod Bowermaster, Lisa Ford, Margaret Tung, Sean Yancer, Dr. Darian Washington, and more.

Goodwin-Souffront currently serves as the Adjunct Instructor of Horn at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. Tyler has given masterclasses and recital performances at various universities such as Catawba College, Brevard College, University of Virginia in Wise, and Illinois Wesleyan University. He additionally has given presentations on topics such as Linguistics in Music Education and Sliding into Trombone Literature at the Southeast Horn Workshop (2020 and 2023) and International Horn Society Summer Symposium (2023).

Goodwin-Souffront is an active professional hornist and serves as the Acting Second Horn of the Salisbury Symphony (Salisbury, NC) and is the fourth hornist of Symphony of the Mountains (Kingsport, TN), Brevard Philharmonic (Brevard, NC), and Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony (Knoxville, TN) where he is additionally the Personnel Manager. As a chamber musician, Goodwin-Souffront is the hornist of Corridor Brass, Ascension Brass Quintet, SPN Brass Quintet, Greensboro Chamber Brass (former), and Dolce Winds (former). He is a regular hornist in numerous orchestras and wind ensembles in the Southeastern region of the United States.

Goodwin-Souffront is a member of the International Horn Society, American Composers Forum, Tau Kappa Alpha, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Fraternity. Outside of music, Tyler enjoys playing video games, reading books and cooking with his husband, David.

IU email: thgoodwi@iu.edu 

Coming from a small military town in the heart of the Ozarks, Ladarion Hardison is a senior horn student at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, studying under Jeff Nelsen. Pursuing his BSoF joint degree in music and environmental science, Ladarion has a passion for film scores, video game soundtracks, and improving the health of our shared world.

He has participated in a number of local gigs and community bands around southern Indiana, performing in pit orchestras in Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Bedford, and one day, he hopes to spread his musicianship to Washington state. Ladarion has also shared time on the field as part of the Marching Hundred and the Crabb Band under the direction of Dr. Eric Smedley and Dr. Tiffany Galus. His other involvements have included the IU Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, the Big Red Horn Club, and various chamber ensembles, among others.

The thing Ladarion loves most about music is collaborating with others. Musicals and pits are where his admiration for the art shines and he seeks to continue exploring this facet of performance post-graduation.

Outside of the practice room, Ladarion enjoys connecting to his residents as an RA, honing his roller-skating skills, and exploring the beautiful and vibrant community of Bloomington.

IU email: lthardis@iu.edu

Kody Helbock is a freshman from Long Island, New York, double majoring in Horn Performance
and Music Education under Professor Tryon. At 5 years old, his musical career began with
piano lessons. He began private horn lessons in the fourth grade, which promptly sparked his
passion and focus for music. In middle school, Kody was the first person from his hometown to
be selected for the New York State Band Directors’ Association (NYSBDA) Honor Band, and
was selected to perform with these ensembles for three consecutive years. The highlights of his
high school experience include being a section leader in his Wind Ensemble, playing trumpet in
pep band, and performing with his ensembles at Hershey Park and Disney World. As a senior,
Kody became a co-founder of a full-scale acapella group that often performs at local and
community events. He has been an active member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra for three
years, and had the incredible opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with this ensemble
annually. Through his opportunities, Kody has been requested to substitute and perform with
many local ensembles, including the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra and the Long Island Festival
Orchestra. He has also participated in many prestigious ensembles throughout high school,
including the New York All-State Band and All-State Orchestra, sitting principal horn both years
during his performances at Kodak Hall. In 2023, he was the only horn player selected from Long
Island to perform with the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) All-Eastern Band.
Outside of music, he enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, snowboarding, and
being outdoors. Kody is incredibly excited to begin his studies and looks forward to his future at
Jacobs.

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

Native to both Pennsylvania and New York, Evelyn (Evie) Hupka has been playing horn for over 10 years. Prior to college, she studied predominantly with David Martin, horn player and music education lecturer at Rutgers University. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, with Jeff Nelsen. Since coming to Indiana in 2021, she has performed in numerous ensembles including the IU Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra.

In the summer of 2023, Evie participated as a fellow in the Cincinnati Symphony Brass Orchestral Institute, working with a variety of members of the Cincinnati Symphony, including Elizabeth Freimuth and Molly Norcross. She also attended Brevard Music Center’s orchestral program the same year, studying with Hazel Dean Davis, David Smith, and Neil Deland.

Since 2018, Evie has worked closely with Kindred Spirits Arts Program (KSAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing professional musicians to northeast Pennsylvania for performances and masterclasses. Most recently, she worked with KSAP to perform in a recital alongside the young, award-winning pianist Christopher Shin and renowned cello soloist Yosif Feigelson.

In her spare time, Evie enjoys hiking, cooking for friends, and studying Russian language. She can often be found on Saturday mornings strolling through the Bloomington Farmers Market.

IU email: evhupka@iu.edu

Carley Johnson is a first 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 Ryan Little and Amber Heard 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 can be found painting, reading a whimsical novel, or spending time in nature.

Ari Kessler is a fourth-year student pursuing his Bachelor of music in Horn Performance with a minor in Mathematics studying with professors Seraphinoff and Tryon. Born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, Ari performed with various Indiana honor bands in high school, including the IMEA and IBA Honor All-State bands. In his time at Jacobs, Ari was honored with the Philip Farkas horn award and performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra for the world premiere of the opera Anne Frank, as well as many other large works. Ari has performed professionally with the Paducah Symphony. Ari also enjoys studying the natural horn under the tutelage of Mr. Seraphinoff.

Outside of Jacobs, Ari spends his free time visiting with friends, skiing, playing basketball, and cooking.

IU email: arikessl@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

From Chattanooga, TN, River Lessig is an orchestral horn player and educator finishing his Masters degree in horn performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He is currently a substitute musician with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and has performed regularly with a wide variety of artistic programs including the Chattanooga Bach Choir and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s theatrical department. River is involved in the pageantry marching arts, having toured with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and spent time with a number of high school band programs as an educator. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in horn performance from Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

IU email: rmlessig@iu.edu

Steven Liberman is a Junior Horn Performance Major from the Atlanta area. He began playing horn in 5th grade extracurricular band and has continued ever since. In high school, he placed highly in the Georgia All-State Bands and played 2 years with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra. At Jacobs, he has played in both band and orchestra, and he most recently played Mahler’s Totenfeier with the Jacobs Concert Orchestra. Steven has also played in Professor Thurman’s Brass Choir, which he would recommend to all horn players in need of a challenge. Before studying with Professor Nelsen, Steven learned the ways of the horn from Julie Gerhardt, Richard Williams, and Susan Welty, Associate Principal of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

IU email: saliberm@iu.edu

Lydia Loglisci is an incoming undergraduate student and is a member of Studio Nelsen, pursuing her BSoF joint degree in music performance, along with journalism in IU’s Media school. Lydia is from and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Mountain Brook High School. Before continuing her music and academic studies at IU, she participated in Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra, served as Band Captain for her school’s marching band, and was principal horn in the concert band at school. Additionally, in 2022, Lydia marched with Drum Corps International Open Class Corps, Southwind. Lydia has also participated in Alabama All-State Honor Band and District Honor Band. She was recognized as her High School’s Most Outstanding Brass Player, along with the John Philip Sousa Award her senior year.

Outside of her passion for music, Lydia enjoys journalism. In high school, she was a member of her school’s broadcast team, where she enjoyed an outlet to express her creativity through editing videos. She enjoyed working in the team, work-like environment, being a leader, and staying plugged into the school and community by listening and learning from people outside of her own spheres of interest. Her senior year, Lydia received the Alabama Journalist of the Year Award. That desire and obligation to belong and branch motivated Lydia to study journalism in college, along with music performance.

In her free time, Lydia enjoys hanging out with friends, enjoying the outdoors, swimming, and exploring her new community of Bloomington.

IU email: ljloglis@iu.edu

A staple of the Jacobs community since 2020, Tylar Martin-Nichols is pursuing masters degrees in both horn and arts administration. Tylar received his BM from Roosevelt University where he studied with Jon Boen, Dale Clevenger, and Greg Flint in addition to receiving mentorship in arts administration from Henry Fogel. Originally from California, Tylar performed as principal horn of the Westlake Village Symphony and taught lessons in the Los Angeles area for four years before coming to IU to resume his studies with Prof. Clevenger.

At Jacobs, he currently serves as a member of the Orchestra Advisory Committee, School of Music Council, and as Co-Chair of the Student Representative Committee. Tylar has also worked previously as administrative assistant and interim coordinator for Jacobs Academy, JSoM’s office for pre-college and summer programs, in addition to recent internships with the O’Neill School’s Student Leadership Programs office and Reimagining Opera for Kids. Additionally, Tylar is a “Zoom Guru” managing complex hybrid meeting productions for the Bloomington Rotary Club and Jacobs OECD’s annual AlgoRhythms summit. Performance highlights include Jacobs’ 2022 production of Don Giovanni, the 2022 American Bandmasters Association conference with the IU Wind Ensemble, and film scoring work in Los Angeles.

Additionally, Tylar holds a leadership certificate from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and has authored or co-authored course proposals for both the Jacobs and O’Neill Schools. Tylar’s hobbies include cooking, photography, travel, and car repair.

For all Jacobs committee and policy related questions, please contact Tylar at: jsomsrc@iu.edu

All other inquiries may be sent to: tynich@iu.edu Tylarnichols.weebly.com

IU email: tynich@iu.edu

Mikayla McCommas is the Adjunct Instructor of Horn at University of Tennessee in Martin. She is working towards completing her Doctorate in Horn Performance at Indiana University with Jeff Nelsen. McCommas received her Masters in Horn Performance at IU studying modern horn with Dale Clevenger and natural horn with Richard Seraphinoff. A native of North Texas, she completed her Bachelors in Music Education at Stephen F. Austin State University with Dr. Charles Gavin.

Since moving to Bloomington in 2017, McCommas has been freelancing with several regional orchestras and chamber groups around the Midwest, and frequently performs with the Evansville Philharmonic and the “Hot Horns” brass quintet. Established in 2018, she founded Indiana University’s horn choir, the Big Red Horn Club, as a unifying organization for the nearly fifty horn students at the Jacobs School of Music to engage and perform for the Bloomington community. She explores special interests in researching deliberate practice methods for the horn, giving an online lecture at the International Horn Symposium in 2020 titled “Quality Over Quantity: Efficient Practice Habits to Prepare for Effective Performance”. In 2022, McCommas served as the Associate Instructor of Horn at Indiana University—teaching lessons, leading morning routines, coordinating ensemble auditions, and executing administrative duties for the horn department. Her transformative experience at Kendall Betts Horn Camp in 2023, led to her serving on staff the following year.

Her teaching is inspired by the mentorship of her previous private horn instructors: Karen Houghton, Charles Gavin, Alex Shuhan, Richard Seraphinoff, Dale Clevenger, and Jeff Nelsen. McCommas has been teaching private lessons for over a decade, to students ranging from 10 – 40 years of age. Outside of the horn, she works as an administrative assistant for the brass department at IU and as a barista and baker at a local coffee shop.
Website: mikaylamccommas.com

IU email: mikstill@iu.edu

Ashley Mueller is a second year Masters student studying with Denise Tryon. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Ashley attended the University of Oklahoma where she earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Mathematics degrees concurrently. While at OU, she studied horn under Eldon Matlick and Matthew Reynolds.

During her time at Jacobs, Ashley performed with the University Orchestra and New Music Ensemble. She has also played with the Evansville Ballet Orchestra for their 2022 productions of The Nutcracker.

Outside of music, Ashley enjoys spending time with her horse, Bird, and pursuing hobbies such as archery, photography, exploring the outdoors, and traveling.

IU email: ashbmuel@iu.edu

Emma is currently a second year Masters student at the Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. She arrived after graduating from the University of Idaho, with degrees in Horn performance and Music Ed. She has performed with the Palouse Brass Ensemble, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Faculty Ensemble, she performed as member of the Disneyland All-American College Band (summer ’22), and most recently spent the summer working with the American Brass Quintet during their Aspen Summer Seminar. At IU, Emma has been in IU’s New Music Ensemble, Brass Band, and graduate student brass quintet. Emma has received many scholarships and awards with the most prominent being the Presser Foundation Scholarship.

IU email: emknixon@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

Andre Richter, a Hornist from Greenville, North Carolina, is currently pursuing a performance diploma in Denise Tryon’s studio. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, where he studied under Denise Tryon and Dale Clevenger. Andre has participated in notable ensembles such as the Brevard Music Center, the Pierre Monteux Orchestra, and The National Youth Orchestra of the United States . He is also recognized as a Four Seasons Next-Gen Artist. In addition to regularly performing with the North Carolina Symphony, Andre occasionally collaborates with regional orchestras in the Midwest. Outside of music, he enjoys nature and surreal comedy.

IU email: richteal@iu.edu

Alex Riley is a first-year student at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying with Professor Nelsen. Alex is originally from the Cincinnati area, where he was a four-year member of his high school’s Wind Symphony and marching band, an eleven-time Grand Nationals finalist, even serving as a drum major for two years. Alex has been under the tutelage of Mrs. Karen Schneider and Mrs. Linda Elliot Glover, performing in many prestigious regional and state-wide ensembles, as well as national events, such as the Midwest Clinic. Outside of horn, Alex enjoys spending time with friends, studying interesting subjects, and listening to music.

IU email: ar108@iu.edu

Andi Rosin is a first-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

Josh Sharp is a senior music education major from Springfield, Georgia. He began playing horn in the sixth grade, where his love and passion for music began to take flight. During high school, Josh was principal chair of the GMEA District One Honor Band for 3 years, a two year member of the Georgia All-State Band, and a four year performer in Armstrong State University’s Winterfest. He also performed at the University of Georgia’s Janfest his junior and senior year of high school. Since attending IU, Josh has enjoyed performing in Concert and Symphonic bands, including a performance for the College Band Directors National Association at DePaul University in 2020. Josh has also held positions with the IU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Rodney Dorsey. This summer, Josh attended the Domaine Forget International Music Festival in Quebec, studying with Andrew Bain and members of the Montreal Symphony horn section. An avid performer of the marching arts, Josh has enjoyed his time in the Marching Hundred, as well as CRABB Band and Men’s Big Red Basketball Band. He also holds a teaching position with Lebanon High School, where he has taught the brass section during their marching seasons since 2021. Josh has enjoyed being a member of Studio Tryon and looks forward to honing his talents at the Jacobs School.

IU email: jossharp@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

Natalie Smith is originally from Phoenix, Arizona but currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana, where she is earning a Horn Performance degree. At IU, Natalie studies with Jeff Nelsen primarily but has also studied with teachers such as Richard Seraphinoff, Eric Kushner, Nathan Mitchell, and Martha Sharpe. She has performed in several orchestras worldwide, from the Chandler Symphony Orchestra in Chandler, Arizona to the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montréal, Canada. Natalie has developed a love for international travel through her time studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. She was able to attend world-class performances in Vienna, Berlin, London, as well as other various countries. This year she is excited to serve as the 2024-2025 Big Red Horn Club President.

IU email: nrs4@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

Andrew Vance is a horn player and teacher from Fresno, California. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Horn Performance from California State University Fresno where he studied with Dr. Tom Hiebert and performed with a variety of university ensembles, including orchestras, wind bands, and brass and woodwind chamber groups. Outside of school, Andrew spent time performing with the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra and recording various studio projects. In 2021, Andrew moved to Bloomington, Indiana to pursue a Master’s degree at the Jacobs School of Music where he studied with Denise Tryon and Dale Clevenger. When not playing the horn, Andrew enjoys getting outdoors, spending time with his family, and keeping his hands busy with projects around the house.

IU email: vancean@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

Brendan Wiggins is a horn player and teacher originally from Boise, Idaho. He began his studies with Boise Philharmonic principal Brian Vance, and went to Utah to receive his Bachelor’s degree studying at Utah Valley University. At UVU, he studied with Dr. Natalie Douglass and Dr. Maddy Tarantelli, focusing on Kodaly method and horn performance. He has received grants to study abroad, leading him to the Kodaly School of Music in Hungary in 2018, and Kendall Betts Horn Camp in New Hampshire in 2019. Brendan has played and subbed with many of the orchestras and operas in Utah, including Utah Festival Opera and Music Theater, UVU Opera, all of UVU’s small and large ensembles that include horn, and other local ensembles. He is currently a masters student at Indiana University, studying under Richard Seraphinoff. Besides playing, writing, and listening to music, some of Brendan’s favorite pastimes include skiing, hiking, and playing electric guitar.

IU email: bkwiggin@iu.edu

Will Wilems is a first year performance major studying with Richard Seraphinoff. Will began playing horn as an elementary school student in The Woodolands,Texas before moving to Sammamish, Washington. Will has studied with Paulette Altman and JSOM alumnus Michael Hill. He has played principal horn in the Bellevue and Tacoma Youth Symphonies, soloed with his high school orchestra, played with the Washington All-State symphony orchestra and wind ensemble, and earned a superior rating at Washington State solo and ensemble. In his free time, Will likes to hike, cook, and find new music to play and listen to.

Jacob Wiley is a first 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 previously studied under David Nowell. 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 Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Temple Symphony Orchestra. Outside of music, Jacob’s interests include fashion, video games, and cartoons.

IU email: jafwiley@iu.edu

Elijah Yocum is an accomplished horn player from Chesapeake, Virginia. As a military kid, Elijah has lived all over the United States, beginning his musical “career” in fifth grade in Washington State in a band conducted by the first British person he had met. Starting on an unfortunate brass instrument: the trumpet, but after moving to Kansas, was prompted to either switch instruments or redo the first year, making the switch to a better brass instrument: the horn. Playing on the side until COVID hit and free time abounded. Rather than sitting at home, doing nothing, and being bored, he added a bit of spice by dedicating some time every day to practice, eventually falling in love with the process. Seeking out a private instructor his sophomore year, then moving to Virginia where he found a teacher that allowed him to thrive. Placing in the top group at All-State two years in a row, ending his senior year as first chair overall: following his senior year with an internship in a local professional concert band. His goal is to share music with all those around him and hone his skills to make that goal more achievable.

IU email: eyocum@iu.edu

Trevor Zavac (b. 2000 Hinsdale, IL) is a composer and horn player. A graduate of Noblesville High School in Noblesville, IN, he has since studied horn with Dr. Gail Lewis, Richard Seraphinoff, and Thomas Jöstlein; and composition with Dr. Michael Schelle, Dr. P.Q. Phan, Dr. David Dzubay, and Dr. Aaron Travers. He currently attends the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he is pursuing both a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Composition. 

Zavac’s Music has been performed by a myriad of chamber groups and large ensembles at The Brevard Music Center, Butler University, and Indiana University; including the Butler University Composer’s Orchestra, the Brevard Music Center New Music Ensemble, and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, among others. 

In the summers 2021 and 2022, Zavac attended the Brevard Music Center Summer Composition Institute in Brevard, North Carolina. His piece for orchestra, Convulsions, was awarded a premiere by the Brevard Music Center Orchestra under the direction of Keith Lockhart in the 2022 season. Other awards include an Honorable Mention from the 2022 International Horn Society Composition Contest for his piece for horn trio, Fringe. 

In addition to composition, Zavac is the president and conductor of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Big Red Horn Club, which is a student led large horn ensemble within the Jacobs School of Music. 

IU email: tzavac@iu.edu