Caroline Lemen — horn

I am from the Rochester, New York area originally, and played in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as a high school student. I went to undergraduate school in Potsdam, New York, at the Crane School of Music. I migrated to Chicago and got my Master's at Northwestern University in Evanston, loved being in Chicago, going to Chicago Symphony concerts, and hearing their awesome brass section. I moved to New Orleans and played with the New Orleans Symphony for three years, and with the Santa Fe Opera for several seasons. After the New Orleans Symphony closed its doors, alas, I moved to the Twin Cities and started my current career as freelance horn player. I work a lot with the Minnesota and Saint Paul Chamber orchestras. I also play shows and church jobs and Minneapolis Pops. I am on the faculty of Augsburg and Macalester colleges, and have a private teaching studio at home. This past summer I played at the Teton Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

When invited to join the Musical Offering at the end of last season, I accepted gladly. I love the opportunity to play in a small ensemble where the horn actually gets to play and be heard as a solo instrument.

I am looking forward very much to playing the Brahms Horn Trio in the spring, as the Romantic composers are enthralling and Brahms' writing for the horn so delicious! 

The Musical Offering can help listeners get to know individual orchestral instruments on a more personal level. This more intimate glimpse of the instruments can help someone enjoy all sorts of classical concerts on a deeper level.

People might like to listen to all sorts of "classical" music, especially chamber music. Pick one instrument to listen to and try to hear how that instrument functions in the group and as a solo voice. To those who may think that classical music is boring, pick up an instrument and try to make a beautiful sound. That is one reason why music education for young people is so vital. It can establish for them a more personal relationship with serious music while enriching their lives AND building up their brain cells!