FEATURED ARTIST

Jennifer Kempe

Jennifer Kempe, a native of Champaign, Illinois, is a member of The United States Army Field Band, the U.S. Army’s premier touring concert band. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois and a Master of Music degree from Western Michigan University. Jennifer primarily performs as principal horn in The U.S. Army Field Band and is also a member of The U.S. Army Field Band Brass Quintet. Since moving to the National Capital Region, she has enjoyed performing with local ensembles such as the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the International Women’s Brass Conference Holiday Brass in Baltimore. Her primary teachers include Bernhard Scully and Lin Foulk Baird.

Prior to joining The U.S. Army Field Band in 2018, Jennifer lived in the Quad Cities area of Iowa, performing as Principal Horn of the Battle Creek Symphony and 2nd Horn of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with numerous ensembles throughout the Midwest, including the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Tallgrass Brass Band, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Pit Orchestra. Jennifer also taught students of all ages, maintaining a private horn studio and teaching brass lessons in local schools throughout the Quad Cities.

SCHEDULE

all events take place in Dalton Center

12:00 p.m. Registration for Solo Competition participants

Perform your solo/ensemble piece or any other appropriate work for Dr. Baird and Ms. Kempe. One person will be selected from this competition to play in the masterclass later in the day and everyone will receive written comments. There are limited slots, so sign up soon!

1:00 p.m. General Registration (and optional group 

warm-up)

1:30 p.m. Recital—Western Horn Choir and WMU horn 

students 

2:15 p.m. Mass Horn Choir Rehearsal (all participants)

3:15 p.m. Featured Artist Masterclass

Jennifer Kempe

4:30 p.m. Break

Sandwiches and snacks will be served to participants

               Q/A with featured artist

6:00 p.m. Final Concert

Featured Artist Jennifer Kempe

WMU Horn Professor Lin Baird

Western Horn Choir

Mass Horn Choir

Details

• The registration fee is $30 per participant, which provides food and helps sponsor the featured artist. Please use the QR code in the registration form link for payment. The final concert requires no admission fee and is open to the public. Family members of participants may observe any part of the day free of charge.

• Public parking is available in the structure adjacent to Miller Auditorium free of charge. 

• Please bring your own instrument and mouthpiece. Music for the mass horn choir will be provided at the workshop. Please dress casually.

• Directions to Dalton Center

• Please contact Dr. Lin Baird with any questions.

Horn Day is made possible in part by a WMU horn studio endowment established by Robert R. and Ruth J. Fink.