Signature Symphony guest host, Dr. Katy Ambrose, guides you through a deeper understanding of the historical significance and background of the French horn as a marker of oppression and freedom in the lives of African American musicians. Great for adults and kids, this interactive event allows you to participate in real-time chat and Q&A.

Dr. Ambrose’s presentation will delve into the connection between American horn players of African and Creole descent, and the use of the horn as a symbol of oppression and freedom. This will include a look at how the horn was utilized in the lives of enslaved persons, the role it played in the advent of the Black brass band tradition during and after the War of 1812, its use in minstrel bands and offshoots during the Postbellum period, and accounts of jazz horn players and racist audition practices of the early- to mid-20th century.

Katy Ambrose enjoys a multifaceted career as a performer and educator. She serves as Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Virginia and holds the position of principal horn in the Charlottesville Symphony and the New Orchestra of Washington, as well as fourth horn in the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. She formerly held positions in the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Albany Symphony and Lexington Philharmonic, and has made substitute appearances with numerous orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Hawai’i Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Richmond Symphony, and the Virginia Symphony. She is a founding member of the trans–continental natural horn quartet Conica, DC–based quartet Izula Horns, and was co-founder of the internationally renowned Seraph Brass. She served as founding Operations Coordinator for the Boulanger Initiative, an organization working toward greater inclusivity in music through performance, education, and commissions by womxn and underrepresented composers. Dr. Ambrose received her Doctor of Musical Arts from Temple University, where she researched the lives and influence of horn players of African descent in America. She received an Artist Diploma from Yale University, Master’s from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Bachelor’s from the University of Michigan.

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