For Prospective Students
The MSU Horn studio stays very busy. Several of them perform in our 200+-piece Racer Marching Band each Fall with the either the Mellophone, in the Guard, or even as one of three Drum Majors. Upon a successful audition, our most outstanding Hornists are involved in the MSU Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. The Wind Ensemble has performed recently in England and in Carnegie Hall. Our Horn students also choose Brass Choir and either Woodwind or Brass Quintets to round out their chamber music experiences. After successful nomination and subsequent audition, several members of the Horn studio have been selected from the studios of all the Kentucky universities to be a member of the Kentucky Music Educators’ Association All-Collegiate Band and All-Collegiate Orchestra concerts held each February in Louisville. If you are serious about studying and performing on the Horn, you belong here!
About Professor John Dressler
At Murray State Dr. Dressler also teaches courses in music history and literature. Previously he taught at Baylor University, the University of Georgia and Jacksonville (FL) University. He was the first to have earned a Doctorate in Horn Performance from Indiana University’s School of Music, and his major teachers include Philip Farkas, Michael Hatfield, Ethel Merker and Martin Morris. He holds a Masters degree in Horn Performance also from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio. He has performed in master classes given by Barry Tuckwell, David Krehbiel, Lowell Greer and Dale Clevenger.
Dr. Dressler is also a model railroader, the organist at Benton (KY) United Methodist Church and is still waiting to become a proud owner of a black or midnight blue 1941 Packard or 1941 Buick touring sedan.
About the MSU Horn Studio
Jessica Arnold is a senior music major from Edwardsville IL. She is currently a member of the MSU Wind Ensemble and is planning a Spring-semester recital. She will pursue graduate school work after graduation.
Brandon Felker is a freshman from Providence KY. He is performing in both the MSU Racer Band mellophone section as well as using his horn with the MSU Brass Choir. He has taught for Hopkins County Central’s band camp in 2007. He was a John Phillip Sousa Band Award recipient from his high school. In his free time he enjoys color guard, video games, hanging out with friends and tennis.
Daniel Haulk is a junior from Hopkinsville KY. As a music education major he is active as a Section Leader with this year’s MSU Racer Band and is performing with the MSU Brass Choir.
Katie Herrenbruck is a junior Biology major/Music minor from Madisonville KY. She is currently the Racer Band Color guard Section Leader and is also active as a color guard staff member at Madisonville North Hopkins High School and Murray High School. She performed in the orchestra for the Madisonville Community College’s 2007 summer production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Susan Lawhead is a freshman from Glen Carbon IL. She enjoys performing in the Racer Marching Band color guard, MSU Brass Choir and one of the MSU brass quintets. She also enjoys life-guarding and teaching swimming as well as working at the Women’s Center.
Cory Mullins is a freshman from Murray KY, a graduate of Calloway County High School. Cory is a former KY All-State musician and performs in the Racer Marching Band mellophone section.
Megan Richter is a junior from Mascoutah IL majoring in Music Education. She is a section leader this year for Racer Marching Band and is Principal horn of both the MSU Wind Ensemble and Orchestra this Fall. She is also performing in a brass quintet and is working as the wind ensemble/orchestra librarian. After graduation her goal is to become a high school band director.
Kim Root is a senior music education major from Elizabethtown KY. She is currently participating in the MSU Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. She has been a member of the Racer Band, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. She has taught for several schools across Kentucky including Hancock County High School, Graves County High School and Elizabethtown High School. In addition to teaching, she has worked in the MSU Band Office for 3 years. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, visiting family and playing with her puppy, Caesar. After student teaching and graduation she plans to continue her education in Arts Administration.
Dan Runnels is a junior Spanish major/Music minor from Sugar Land TX but graduated from Murray High School. He is using mellophone with Racer Band and horn with the MSU Brass Choir most recently. He has also previously served as a Racer Band drum major and the MSU Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. He enjoys working at the MSU mail room, reading, running, and eating healthy foods.
Dannielle Schoenfeld is a senior music education major from Louisville. She is currently a member of the MSU Orchestra and has been a member of the Racer Band and the Wind Ensemble. She gives private horn lessons at Graves County (KY) High School and will pursue music therapy certification after graduating from MSU.
Foster Smith is a junior music education major from Paducah and is a graduate of Lone Oak High School. He has been active in Racer Band, Symphony Band and Concert Band.
Bethney Terry is a senior music education major from Reidland KY. She has two dogs, Gracie (a Jack Russell Terrier) and Miles (Yorkie). She loves to scrapbook and is on staff at Elizabethtown (KY) High School Marching Band. After student teaching she will seek a middle school music teaching position. She has been a member of the MSU Racer Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Brass Choir. She is active with Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.
Bethany Wilhelm is a senior music education major from Collinsville IL and is picking up an Equine Science minor. After she graduates she will continue her studies for an Animal Health Technician degree or may continue on to Vet school. She has performed in all of the MSU major ensembles and continues in a woodwind quintet. She enjoys horseback riding and teaching private lessons.
About Recent Graduates of the MSU Horn Studio
John Kelly—graduate assistant in Horn at the University of Memphis School of Music and member of the US Army Reserve Band stationed at Fort Knox KY
Ronald Farmer—Assistant Director of Bands, Elkins High School, Elkins TX and former member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps
Monty Breneman—graduate assistant in Music Education at Murray State University
Christine Gossett—private horn teacher in the Hopkinsville/Christian County KY area
Michelle Perkinson—middle school band director in Pinckneyville IL
Horn Association
All current MSU Horn students as well as prospective Horn students are encouraged to join the International Horn Society. Membership includes a copy of the journal, news about up-coming workshops and auditions, and its website offers an incredible amount of information about the instrument, its history, its literature and horns for sale. You should also check out http://www.horndoggie.com/horn for the opportunity to participate in a Horn Blog and other friendly and informative Horn communications. Here are some important Horn-based websites to get your started.
http://www.opushorn.com/horn.html (then click on links)
http://www.boerger.org/horn/faq.shtml
For more information concerning applied
French Horn study at
Murray State University
