The launch has recently taken place of "The British at Le Mans ­ 85 Years of Endeavour" ­ a detailed book by amateur horn player, BHS Honorary member and former BHS committee member, Ian Wagstaff who, for 11 years, edited The Horn Magazine. In the book's 280 pages, Ian examines the involvement of his countrymen in the famous 24-hour sports car race.

"The British at Le Mans" has been published by Motor Racing Publications for BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund as part of the charity's 100th anniversary celebrations. It pays tribute not just to the cars and the people who have driven them over the past eight decades, but to all those who have shared in their successes and disappointments. Britain's car designers, engineers, team managers, timekeepers, flag marshals, scrutineers, caterers and those involved in the media are all included in the book's 150,000 words and 400 illustrations. Five times Le Mans winner Derek Bell MBE has provided the foreword.

Maggie Houlding has left Opera North after exactly 20 years as 3rd horn. Maggie is from the Leeds area where she studied horn with Bob Ashworth and Peter Blake. During this time, she was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London followed, where her teachers were Jeff Bryant, Tony Halstead and Hugh Seenan. On leaving the GSMD, she freelanced with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London City Ballet before going back to Leeds and joining Opera North.

In recent years, Maggie has taken a great interest in arts and crafts, starting her own business specialising in picture framing and decorative mirrors. She has now decided to make this her full time occupation and the BHS wishes her well for the future.

The Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra in Surrey is looking for talented horn players for both their Symphony Orchestra and Training Orchestra. SYO and SYTO rehearses in Wimbledon each Sunday afternoon in term time, holds up to 4 Concerts per year and undertakes a tour abroad each year. This year SYO visited Salzburg. For details visit the website www.stoneleighyouthorchestra.co.uk/

BHS Financial Support for local events. The BHS has always tried to contribute to the success of local horn-related events by means of financial support/sponsorship. In the past we have done this with a donation of Ł200 to each event following a request being received by the BHS committee. We recognise that some events which are being put on are more ambitious than others, and we would like to be more flexible in our response, giving more to some and less to others. All we ask is that in advance of your event you send a short note to the Treasurer (paulsawbridge@aol.com) which outlines what you are doing:
· What the event is and where
· How many people you expect to participate/attend
· What you want financial help for and how much it will cost

We may ask for more information, but we will consider any request at our next committee meeting. We can also offer support in other ways e.g. advice on soloists or people to run master classes. Try us - we are here to help!

Two horn players retired from well known Glasgow orchestras during 2005. Hugh Potts left the position of 3rd horn in the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra which he had held since 1988. Hugh was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire - the son of a clergyman. He attended Winchester Cathedral School where, at the age of 14 he commenced horn lessons with Major Hannay of the Salvation Army. Whilst a member of the Brighton Youth Orchestra he became a pupil of Neill Sanders and, after studies at Durham University, joined the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden - moving to the Northern Sinfonia (Newcastle) as principal horn in 1974. During his time in Newcastle he appeared as soloist with the orchestra many times and was a Professor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester from 1983 to 1991. He became a Professor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in 1991.

Richard Wakeford had been 4th horn in the Orchestra of Scottish Opera since 1979. The son of an RAF officer, he was born in Torquay and attended the Kings School, Bruton where he played first the bugle and then the trumpet before taking horn lessons from Ernest Langley. He played in the Somerset County Orchestra before going to the Royal Academy of Music in London where his teacher was Ifor James from 1966 to 1968. He became a member of the BBC Training Orchestra in Bristol and in 1969 joined the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as 5th horn - moving to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on 2nd horn in 1974. During his time at Scottish Opera, he was very involved in the successful campaign to save the orchestra when it was under threat and also taught for Strathclyde Education Authority. He has now moved to live in France. The BHS wishes both well for the future.
(Thanks to Tony Catterick for the biographical details)

After just over a year as 3rd horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Tim Thorpe joined the BBC National Orchestra of Wales as Principal horn during January 2006.

Ruthin, in Clwyd - North Wales - is associated with many historical figures. Owen Glyndwr's rebellion started there and it was the place where the mythical King Arthur is said to have had his rival in love, Maen, beheaded. However, it was the shade of Saint Hubert which rode around the ancient Denbighshire town when the 'Nord Ouest horn ensemble' performed movements from Hermann Baumann's arrangement of the 'Grand Messe de St Hubert' in the Collegiate Church of St Peter on the evening of Sunday, 6th November 2005. The performance was part of a Latin Mass celebrated by the Rev. Canon Dr. Raymond Bayley assisted by Fr.Steven Green and Fr. Robert Roland, the Ruthin Church choir, directed by Dr. David Wylde, and organists Philip Smith and John Pryer (harmonium).

Led by Bob Ashworth alternately on trompe de chasse, hand horn and modern horn, the horn players were John Pratt (trompe/hand horn), Jim Moore (trompe/modern horn), John Carvell (trompe), Tim Nicholson (trompe), Peter Richards (hand horn), Jeff Snowden (hand horn), Tim Page, Alan Tokeley and Paul Kampen (modern horns). Woven around the full Latin text of the Mass, the traditional pieces for horn ensemble by Tyndare, Rochard, Cantin, Chalmel and Dampierre were interspersed with movements from the 'Mass for choir and two organs' by Louis Vierne.

Paxmans have announced that, from October 3rd 2005 the Horn Centre in London will be open Tuesday-Friday 9.30-17.30 and Saturday 10.00-17.00

On 17/18 September 2005, between appearances in Montrose and Glamis, Lanercost Priory and Castle Douglas, Scottish Vienna Horns, conducted by Tim Barrett, performed in Stadt Haag in Austria and played during the Sunday Mass in the Stiftskirche of St. Florian. By chance, St. Florian was the location that weekend for the biennial conference of the Anton Bruckner Institute of Linz and a group of conference members afterwards told us of their delight at hearing the brass harmonies of Bruckner emanating from the gallery of the great Bruckner Organ and their surprise to learn that we were nothing but horns. As well as Die Ehre Gottes, we played arrangements of themes from Bruckner's Symphonies 4 and 7 and the graduale Locus iste. Matthias Giesen, Choirmaster at St. Florian and former organist, contributed a thrilling and compelling extemporisation on Bruckner's sixth symphony. A memorable visit and one to be repeated.

The UK Brass Player Database is a new online database for Brass Musicians. If you are aged 18 or over, based in the UK and want to promote the fact that you are available for gigs, then go to www.brassplayerdatabase.co.uk and enter your details. You can alter or delete these details at anytime using a password that you provide. If you require a player of a certain instrument, you can easily search the database by instrument, genre, or area (or all 3) to try and find a suitable musician for your ensemble. The database is free for any brass player aged 18 or over to use.

We are looking for two young professional horn players for our first season in 2006, and one for each season following. We are in the process of checking but think that if they only come out just for the season of 5 weeks each there would not be any work visa requirements. The musicians would stay with our musicians. They would also receive the same awful salary, but, the sun will shine 90% of the time and the beer is cold. We also play cricket, rugby and soccer. Anyone who might be interested should e-mail Sara Gon on sarag@tiscali.co.za

Bath and North East Somerset Music Service ran a Horn day for 23 horn students from the Bath area at the Heyesfield School in Bath on the 8th November 2005. The event was sponsored by John Packer Ltd of Taunton who also mounted an impressive display of horns suitable for players of all levels of ability. The principal artist was Ian Fisher third horn of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Ian opened the day with an accomplished and varied recital accompanied by horn player/teacher Sue Avison. His playing was unfailingly musical and it set the tone for the day. In his master classes, pupils of all abilities were made to think about and develop the musical aspects of their performance. He encouraged them to play outside their comfort zone in order to develop a wider spectrum of sound which could then be put to musical use. The Music Service employs Allen Cheshire as a horn specialist and many of the pupils were his. Allen studied with Francis Orval and Ian Fisher and played with the Orchestra do Norte in Portugal before returning to the UK. It was good to see the enthusiasm of the young players and what can be done with the right resources. It made for a very enjoyable and productive day.
Paul Sawbridge

Following an audition earlier this year, Elizabeth Powell, aged 15, has been invited to play in Gala concerts with the St Petersburg Philharmonic in St Petersburg, the Russian National Orchestra in Moscow and the Royal Philharmonic in London. The concerts also feature the percussionist Evelyn Glennie O.B.E. The Music of Life Foundation, a charity that provides musically gifted children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs with unique opportunities to perform with great artists of classical music, has arranged this programme for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth started playing a specially adapted one-handed descant recorder in school at the age of 8. She now also plays a one-handed treble recorder. Earlier this year she took the London College of Music Recorder grade 7 examination and passed with honours. It is thought that she is the most advanced one-handed player of her age. However, her main instrument is French horn which being played mainly with the left hand makes it an ideal choice as she has right-sided hemiplegia. Elizabeth won a music scholarship to attend St Mary's School in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. She is an active member of Amersham Music Centre, Buckinghamshire which has encouraged her throughout her musical career.The Music of Life Concert in London was on 20th December at the Cadogan Hall.

Hugh Seenan has stepped down as Chairman and Executive Committee Member of the British Horn Society, after a highly successful five years leading the Society, during which the annual Festival toured the United Kingdom, and reinforced its reputation as one of the most high-profile events of the world horn-playing year. Hugh is succeeded by the renowned horn virtuoso, Michael Thompson. Hugh comments "It has been a great privilege to be chairman of the BHS. We have a very talented and dedicated group of people working on behalf of the society and I wish them and the new BHS Hon Chairman, Michael Thompson, every success for the future."

Michael Thompson needs no introduction from us, but says himself "As the saying goes "If it's not broken, don't fix it". The BHS is in great shape thanks to the talents and hard work of the committee under Hugh Seenan's inspirational leadership and of course the members. I'm excited to be taking over the role of chairman and looking forward to doing what I can to ignite even more interest in and passion for this wonderful instrument of ours. Happy horn playing."

We are very sorry to report the premature death of Oliver Green, fourth horn with the Philharmonia Orchestra, at the age of only 29. He became ill while having dinner with the other members of the horn section following a Philharmonia performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on November 29, and died later in St Thomas's Hospital.

The Philharmonia Orchestra's concerts at Warwick Arts Centre (30 November) and the Queen Elizabeth Hall (1 December) were dedicated to his memory. The BHS would like to offer its deepest sympathy to his family and fiancée.

The BHS website is marking 10 years online with a new look - we hope you like it. Let us know at mike@british-horn.org

The London Horn Sound, Cala Records' iconic recording of the top London horn players has sold over 13,000 copies since being released in 1999, becoming Cala's greatest seller ever. This is a remarkable achievement for what may seem a rather specialist disc for aficionados of the horn, and is a great tribute to the players themselves, conductor Geoffrey Simon and principal sponsors John Wates and Paxmans, as well as the recording team and arrangers who provided the groundbreaking music for the sessions.

Since the print editions of those arrangements became available in 2001 over 1300 sets have been sold worldwide, far eclipsing Cala's other brass and string publications. Horn players must surely be the most gregarious of musicians, forming ensembles all over the world in a way that perhaps no other instrument does. Cala is thinking of making the London Horn Sound Volume 2: watch this space!

The World Premiere of Andrew Downes’ 5 dramatických částí pro 8 Wagnerových tub opus 80 (5 Dramatic Pieces for 8 Wagner Tubas) commissioned by the hornists of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, was given on Tuesday October 18th at the Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, in the Czech Republic. The new work was played as the first item in the second half of the concert, the interval giving the players the opportunity to adjust their embouchures from horn to Wagner Tuba.

The work is in five movements: Prelude (Úvod), Dawn of Love (Úsvit lásky), New Life (Nový život), Meditation (Hloubání-rozjimáni), Jubilate: O be Joyful (Vesele, radostnĕ, jásavĕ).

Prelude begins quietly, but builds to two exciting crescendos. The monumental chords could almost be seen rising to the roof in the wonderful acoustic of the Dvořák Hall.

Dawn of Love starts with a rising motif with a quiet, pulsating accompaniment, and builds to climaxes of dramatic intensity and emotion.

New Life is a bubbling, buoyant movement, suggestive, perhaps, of a baby bouncing up and down on its parent’s lap. This is interspersed by two quiet, reflective and profound passages.

In Meditation each instrument in turn, accompanied by the others, has its voice. The movement is also characterised by chordal passages reminiscent of a choir singing antiphonally in Renaissance-like polyphony.

Jubilate: O be Joyful is rhythmically and emotionally charged throughout. Intermittent bursts of joyous music finally dominate and end the movement.

The performance by the Czech Philharmonic Hornists was outstanding. Their sense of ensemble, immaculate intonation and velvet tone were truly remarkable. The audience gave the performance a long and enthusiastic ovation and many compliments. A number of people on the day following the performance said they had been unable to sleep because of excitement! The players were obviously very taken with the work, and hopefully will record it for Czech Radio.

To hear some music by Andrew Downes, including a performance by the Czech Philharmonic Horns, go to: www.andrewdownes.com and click on "Listening Lounge"

Annelise Martinsen has joined the Orchestra of Opera North as 4th horn. Annelise is originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, where she studied the horn with Thomas Ekman of the Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra. She came to Britain for postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester with Mike Purton and David Cripps, and since then has had a varied freelance career with all the major orchestras in the north of England and in Scotland. Annelise is married to Ben Jones, a horn player with the Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra, and they have a five year old son, Rhys.

Andrew Budden aged 21 has been appointed 5th horn of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Manchester. Andrew, from Cowbridge in South Wales first studied the horn with Arwell Jenkins and then Ian Fisher from the BBCNOW. He then studied with Simon de Souza at the Purcell School of Music and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Hugh Seenan, Jeffrey Bryant and Richard Bissill. Andrew is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the European Union Youth Orchestra.

James Mildered has been appointed 4th horn of the orchestra of Welsh National Opera. James is from Leicester and he first studied the horn with Philip Penglase. He got a degree in economics from Birmingham University, where he continued to have horn lessons with John Logan of the RSNO (formerly of the CBSO). He went on to study horn as an undergraduate with David McLenaghan at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He freelanced in Scotland for some years before taking up his appointment in Wales.

Paul Klein has been appointed 3rd horn of the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast. Paul is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and first studied the horn with Ian Smith and then Charles Floyd the former 3rd and 4th horns of the RSNO. He went on to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with David Flack and Hugh Potts. Paul is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Hyndland Secondary School, Glasgow's horn quartet were invited to play on board the Waverley paddle steamer on a special cruise to Rothsay that was part of the VE commemorations on the island of Bute. The four horn players, Callean Gallager, Lindsay Watkins, Jonathan Maloney and Lindsay Watkins along with myself (writes John Guerrier) and Kenneth Blackwood played some arrangements of World War Two film themes, Dad's Army and various other quartets and trios to entertain the evacuees. At Rothesay we heard a special concert given by the Phoenix choir, before climbing on board the Waverley for the return trip and more playing. The day was blessed by glorious weather and an enthusiastic audience response to our efforts.

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