The Alphorn Podcast

Alphorn Association of North America
  • 4.4 (7)
  • Music History
  • Updated Biweekly

The Alphorn is a unique and ancient art form that adorns mountains across the world with its sacred tune. In this show we explore the instrument, its history and seek to bring awareness to the tradition of the Alphorn so we can advance its legacy for future generations.

  1. Hazel Dean Davis: Harvard • Juilliard • Brevard • Boston Symphony Orchestra • The Alphorn Project

    May 22

    Hazel Dean Davis: Harvard • Juilliard • Brevard • Boston Symphony Orchestra • The Alphorn Project

    Hazel is a professional French horn artist and a founding member of The Alphorn Project. She is a faculty member at the Boston University School of Music and the Longy School of Music. Hazel spends her summers as a faculty artist and teacher at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina and Cormont Horn Camp in New Hampshire; she also maintains a private horn studio in Arlington, MA. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Hazel graduated from Harvard University in 2003 with a BA in Biological and Social Anthropology. At Harvard, she studied horn with James Sommerville and was highly active in the chamber and orchestral music scene, receiving both the David McCord Prize for Music and the Louis Sudler Top Senior Prize in the Arts. Hazel studied with Caroline Lemen and Kendall Betts in St. Paul, and with Julie Landsman at The Juilliard School, where she received a Graduate Performance Diploma in 2004. She spent two summers as a Tanglewood fellow, and she has also enjoyed summers performing at the Marlboro Chamber Music Festival, the Pacific Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival. Resources & Links: Official Website: hazeldeandavis.com YouTube Channel: Hazel Dean Davis on YouTube Faculty Profiles: Hazel Dean Davis | Boston University College of Fine Arts (or direct link) Hazel Dean Davis | Longy School of Music (or direct link) Hazel Dean Davis | Cormont Horn Camp (or direct link) We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    52 min
  2. Dr. Molly Gebrian: Learn Faster, Perform Better, A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing

    May 15

    Dr. Molly Gebrian: Learn Faster, Perform Better, A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing

    Dr. Molly Gebrian is a professional violist with a background in neuroscience. She is the author of Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing. Holding degrees in both music and neuroscience from Oberlin College and Conservatory, New England Conservatory of Music, and Rice University, her area of expertise is applying the science of learning and memory to practicing and performing. Previously, Dr. Gebrian was the viola professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Arizona. After a decade of teaching viola at the collegiate level, she joined the faculty at New England Conservatory of Music in Fall 2024 as the inaugural Teaching Artistry Scholar-in-Residence to teach about the science of practicing.   https://www.mollygebrian.com/ https://www.mollygebrian.com/music-and-the-brain https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Faster-Perform-Better-Neuroscience/dp/0197680070/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1419D… https://www.youtube.com/@DrMollyGebrian https://youtu.be/uN9TsKNAPeU We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    1h 10m
  3. Sadie Glass and The Alphorn Project

    May 8

    Sadie Glass and The Alphorn Project

    This week, we are thrilled to sit down with one of today’s leading natural horn artists, Sadie Glass!  Assistant Professor of Horn and Brass-Percussion Program Director at the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific, Sadie is also one of the four inaugural university faculty ambassadors for The Alphorn Project. Through her innovative work with historical instruments and modern pedagogy, she has become an influential voice in the growing alphorn community. Sadie performs with many of North America’s leading period-instrument ensembles, including Portland Baroque Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and American Bach Soloists. In California, she is a member of the Monterey Symphony and performs regularly throughout the Bay Area with ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony and Santa Rosa Symphony. In addition to her university teaching and performing career, Sadie serves on the faculty of Cormont Horn Camp and has appeared as a guest artist, clinician, and performer at alphorn and horn festivals throughout the United States, including many regional and national International Horn Society Symposiums, the Northwest Alphorn Festival, Santa Fe Alphorn Festival, and the Northern California Alphorn Festival. You can find her sharing her expertise at several upcoming festivals!   Upcoming Opportunities to Connect: Northern California Alphorn Festival: Stockton, CA | August 6–9, 2026 Santa Fe Alphorn Festival: Santa Fe, NM | November 5–9, 2026   Explore Sadie's work here: Official Website: sadieglasshorn.com Instagram: @ive_got_no_valves YouTube: @sadieglass3831 University Profile: Pacific.edu Directory Horn Camp: horncamp.org Horn Camp Faculty Bio: Sadie Glass Leavenworth Workshop: leavenworthalphorns.org AANA- The Alphorn Association or North America 🔗 The Alphorn Association 🔗 Alpensong #SadieGlass #TheAlphornProject #NaturalHorn #Alphorn #BrassEducation #UniversityOfThePacific #HornPlayer #ClassicalMusic #AlphornFestival We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    44 min
  4. Peggy DeMers

    May 1

    Peggy DeMers

    We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible contributions of Dr. Peggy DeMers to the alphorn community! 🏔️🎶 Dr. DeMers is a renowned professional alphorn artist, composer, author, and a celebrated Champion of the Festival International de Cor des Alpes (FICA) de Nendaz. As the founder of the Midwest Alphorn Retreat, she has been instrumental in growing our community and passion for this unique instrument. In 2023, Dr. DeMers gave a monumental gift to the alphorn world: she translated, edited, and published the English edition of Alfred Leonz Gassmann’s "The Little Alphorn Book." It is an essential resource for players everywhere! Learn more about her work and workshops here: ✨ https://midwestalphornretreat.us/ ✨ https://leavenworthalphorns.org/nw-alphorn-workshop Find her music and book here: 📚 https://www.treblecmusic.com/peggy-demers 📖 https://www.treblecmusic.com/product-page/the-little-alphorn-book-blow-the-alphorn-again-for-me Support ANNA here: https://www.alphornassociation.org/ Alpensong.com    #Alphorn #DrPeggyDeMers #FICA #AlphornMusic #MidwestAlphornRetreat #SwissTradition #MusicEducation We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    56 min
  5. The Creative Process with Laura Nelson

    Apr 24

    The Creative Process with Laura Nelson

    We are thrilled to welcome back the incredible Laura Nelson! 🎙️✨ In this week’s episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on Laura’s CREATIVE PROCESS. As one of the most prolific composers in the alphorn world, Laura shares what she does to get the creativity flowing and gives us a sneak peek into the exciting projects she’s currently working on. Whether you're a musician, an artist, or just a fan of the creative spark, you won’t want to miss this! Laura is a celebrated winner at both the North American Alphorn Festival and Switzerland’s Festival International de Cor des Alpes (FICA), and her influence on the alphorn repertoire is unmatched. 🏔️🏆 Connect with Laura and explore her music: 🎼 Shop Music: www.Alpenmuse.com 📧 Contact: AlpenMuse@yahoo.com 👥 Facebook: Laura Nelson Profile 1 | Laura Nelson Profile 2 Join the community: AANA- The Alphorn Association or North America 🔗 The Alphorn Association 🔗 Alpensong #TheAlphornProject #LauraNelson #CreativeProcess #AlphornComposer #AANA #MusicInspiration #PodcastFriday #AlpenMuse We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    53 min
  6. Michael Gelb

    Apr 17

    Michael Gelb

    Michael Gelb is an award-winning author of 18 books. He is a practitioner of the Alexander Technique (AT), a subject matter expert on creativity, genius thinking,  and human potential. His bestselling books include: Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique, How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, and Discover Your Genius. Michael has performed with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. He is an expert juggler and a fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido.   https://michaelgelb.com/ https://michaelgelb.com/books https://michaelgelb.com/blog https://www.facebook.com/share/1DQWDfMYeT/?mibextid=wwXIfr #thealphornproject https://www.roosevelt.edu/profile/sforsythe @stasiasiena  https://www.alphornassociation.org https://www.alpensong.com/ We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    50 min
  7. Dr. Jonathon Stillman

    Apr 10

    Dr. Jonathon Stillman

    We’re heading to the West Coast for this week’s episode! 🎙️🏔️ Sean sits down with Dr. Jonathon Stillman, a man whose expertise spans from the lecture hall to the Swiss Alps. Dr. Stillman is a Professor at San Francisco State University and U.C. Berkeley, but when he isn't teaching, he is a leading figure in the North American alphorn community. A founding member of Alphorns San Francisco, Dr. Stillman also performs with Echo vom Birseck. Having lived in Switzerland for many years, he brings a wealth of authentic experience from competing and performing within the traditional Swiss Jodelerklubs. Tune in to hear Dr. Stillman discuss his journey from Switzerland to the Bay Area and his dedication to preserving the traditional sounds of the alphorn.  🔗https://www.alpensong.com/ Alphornssf.org 🔗 Alphornassociation.org #TheAlphornProject #DrJonathonStillman #AlphornsSF #SFSU #UCBerkeley #Alphorn #PodcastFriday #AANA  We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    1h 15m
  8. Janet Mano and Kevin Rieke

    Apr 3

    Janet Mano and Kevin Rieke

    We’re heading to the heart of Leavenworth this week as Sean chats with Janet Mano and Kevin Rieke.   Janet is a professional alphorn artist and the President of the Leavenworth Alphorns, while Kevin—a career entrepreneur and second-generation Leavenworth native—serves as an officer for the group. We dive into the rich culture of their community and what it takes to lead such a vibrant musical organization.   Speaking of leadership, the Leavenworth Alphorns were honored as AANA’s 2025 Organization of the Year! 🏆✨   Mark Your Calendars!📅 Don't miss the chance to see them in action at the Leavenworth Alphorn Festival, happening May 21-24, 2026.   🏔️ANNA https://www.alphornassociation.org/ 🎼 Alpensong https://www.alpensong.com/ 🏔️ Leavenworth Alphorns: https://leavenworthalphorns.org/ 🎼 NW Alphorn Workshop: https://leavenworthalphorns.org/nw-alphorn-workshop 🪵 Local Craft: https://hatshopwoodshop.com/   #TheAlphornProject #LeavenworthAlphorns #LeavenworthWA #AlphornFestival #AANA #JanetMano #KevinRieke #GermanHeritage #MusicFestival #PodcastFriday We want to thank our sponsors ANNA and Alpensong

    1h 27m
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4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Alphorn is a unique and ancient art form that adorns mountains across the world with its sacred tune. In this show we explore the instrument, its history and seek to bring awareness to the tradition of the Alphorn so we can advance its legacy for future generations.

Information

  • Creator
    Alphorn Association of North America
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022, The Alphorn Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Alphorn Podcast