W. Peter Kurau

W. Peter Kurau, Professor of Horn, Director of the Eastman Horn Choir, and hornist with Eastman Brass, was appointed in 1995 to the full-time faculty at the Eastman School of Music, succeeding  Verne Reynolds. He previously served on the faculties of the University of Missouri-Columbia,  SUNY-Geneseo, Roberts Wesleyan College, Houghton College, and Nazareth College.

In September 2004, he was appointed Principal Horn of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, having previously served as Assistant Principal/Acting Principal Horn (1983-95) and as Acting Assistant Principal Horn (2002-2004).

A prizewinner in the Heldenleben International Horn Competition and a recipient of an I.T.T. International Fellowship and numerous faculty merit and development awards, he served as an Artistic Ambassador for the United States Information Agency, presenting recitals and master  classes in Serbia-Montenegro, Kazakstan, Macedonia, and Syria during September 1997. Active as a soloist, chamber musician, and clinician (the latter for Conn/Selmer), he has appeared in these capacities at conventions of the International Horn Society, International Trumpet Guild, College Music Society, Music Educator’s National Conference, New York State School Music Association, Music Teacher’s National Association, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, Southeast Horn Workshop, Mid-South Horn Workshop, Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Eastman/Hamamatsu Seminar, Matsumoto Horn Seminar, South Korean Horn Workshop, the 2002 German Brass Academy and Sauerland Festival, Lieksa (Finland) Brass Festival, and leading universities throughout the United States and Europe (including the Hochschule für Musik/Detmold, the Sibelius Academy, the Helsinki Scandia, and the Lahti Conservatory), as well as at the Bravo! Colorado

Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Chautauqua Festival, Orford Festival, Skaneateles Festival, Fortissimo!, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Monteux School, Eastern Music Festival, Kendall Betts Horn Camp, Texas Music Festival, and the International Festival Institute at Round Top (TX).