Kurt Civilette

French Horn

In the fall of 2010, Kurt Civilette started teaching at Michigan State University and the MSU Community Music School. He teaches classes in brass pedagogy, audition preparation, and coaches chamber ensembles. He maintains an active playing schedule, serving as 3rd horn in Ann Arbor Symphony and as a member of the A2SO Brass Quintet. He is in demand as a guest principal in many local orchestras, playing that role with Michigan Opera Theater, Flint, Saginaw Bay, Windsor (CA), Midland, and Ann Arbor Symphonies. He substituted several times on concerts with the musicians of Detroit Symphony during the recent strike.

For 15 years from 1995-2010, Kurt was full-time 3rd horn/associate principal with New Mexico Symphony in Albuquerque, substituting as interim principal horn for the entire 2001-02 season. Before winning the permanent job in New Mexico, he held temporary positions as principal horn with Charleston (SC) Symphony, principal horn of the Savannah(GA) Symphony, and assistant principal with Honolulu Symphony. While in New Mexico he was also 3rd horn with Santa Fe Symphony and appeared with Santa Fe Opera orchestra. As a successful freelance musician, he has appeared with Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony, St. Louis, Utah, Grant Park, Jacksonville and North Carolina Symphonies, and played many commercial jingles and recording sessions.

During the summers, Kurt plays principal horn with the Southern Illinois Music festival in Carbondale. He has appeared in various US and international summer festivals including Spoleto festival in USA and Italy, the Assisi festival (Italy), the Kumamoto festival in Japan, and Music from Angel Fire. Kurt has performed as an extra player with Santa Fe Opera since 1998.