June 2007 - volume 8 - issue 4
Rick Lambrecht
Brian O'Connor - UCLA Instructor, Movie Studio Hornist
James Patterson - Horn Manufacturer
John Groves - Hornist-Teacher
After having taught a very successful 5A band for over thirty years at Coronado High School in El Paso while maintaining an active playing schedule as Principal Horn in the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, third horn in El Paso Opera, horn in El Paso Brass and teaching horn at UTEP, Rick Lambrecht has come to believe that one of the major performance concerns in the state is that of the horn section. The horn section has the largest number of problems with accurate attacks and note accuracy, weak intonation, poor balance, resonance, and a lack of clarity/ transparency. Their inability to play at the quality level of the rest of the ensemble tends to mar the otherwise fabulous performance of the rest of the ensemble.
This topic will be addressed in a special clinic at the TBA Convention/Clinic presented by Rick on Friday, July 20 at 2:45 p.m. Sponsored by Patterson Hornworks, the presentation features Brian O'Connor along with Jim Patterson and John Groves.
The clinic will feature Brian O'Connor playing excerpts from some of the over 2000 film and television sound tracks in which he was the solo horn player. Brian in addition to being the number one call for horn players in the Los Angeles studios is the instructor of horn at UCLA. In Brian's world you must have perfect accuracy, rhythm, intonation and be very musical on the very first take or you will not have a job the next week. He will be presenting and demonstrating proven methods and techniques of playing and teaching that result in the perfect musical performance required of the film recording artist in the sound stage/studio environment.
Patterson Horns are currently in use by the finest studio musicians in Hollywood as well as members of the New York Philharmonic and many of the worlds finest orchestra and university musicians/teachers. Jim Patterson will discuss why these instruments play as they do. He will include construction, acoustics, intonation, and design. Attendees will learn what to do to improve their equipment and receive information about repair, maintenance, upgrade and manufacture.
John Groves has over 25 years experience at every level of teaching including Symphony, Opera and Quintet performance; middle school, high school, and university band; and horn instruction. John will discuss the importance of a daily routine that is ability-level appropriate for the development of flexibility and technique.
These four presenters will demonstrate section playing concepts as related to intonation, balance, resonance and clarity. They will show different placements in the band and seating arrangements, demonstrating how that affects the sound of the section as well as the overall sound of the band. This clinic is appropriate for every level of teaching from the beginner band to the most advanced university wind ensemble.
Horn: Playing, Teaching and Manufacturing presented by Rick Lambrecht on Friday, July 20 at 2:45 PM in Convention Center Room 214 AB
Richard Lambrecht
Richard Lambrecht has been playing Principal Horn in the El Paso Symphony Orchestra for forty plus years. He is also a founding member of El Paso Brass (a quintet that has been performing together since 1972). Playing Principal Horn in the Roswell Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra de UAJC (Juarez, Mexico) and the El Paso Opera as well as being Instructor Of Horn at UTEP round out his current activity as a hornist in the El Paso southwest area.
In addition to his career on the horn, Richard Lambrecht has had a long and successful career as a Texas Bandmaster. He was the band director at Coronado High School in El Paso for thirty years. Rick is an adjudicator, clinician and mentor for all levels of band activity. A recipient of both the Suosa Foundation Sudler Flag Of Honor for concert band and the Sudler Shield of Excellence for high school marching band. Ricks wife Barbara is a renowned band director, adjudicator, composer and clinician of national recognition.
Brian O'Connor
Brian O'Connor
Horn - Los Angeles Recording Studios
Horn - University of California at Los Angeles
Brian O'Connor was born and raised in Albuquerque NM, and started the French Horn at the age of ten. Brian played Principal French Horn in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and the New Mexico All-State Orchestras before graduating from Highland High School in 1970. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music and holds a BFA Degree from California Institute of the Arts. He studied with Robert Elworthy, Philip Farkas, William Slocum, James Stagliano, and Vincent DeRosa.
Mr. O'Connor began recording in the Hollywood studios in 1974. Since then he has established himself as one of the first call French Horn artists and has played on over 1,000 motion pictures. His solo horn work can be heard on such motion pictures as "Contact", "Star Trek-First Contact", "Star Trek-Generations", "Crimson Tide", "A League of Their Own", "Paulie", "Turbulence", "Twister", "The Rock", the "Austin Powers" movies, "The Sixth Man", and "Lion King" to name just a few. He has performed on many TV series including "Hawaii 5-0", "Fantasy Island", "The Love Boat", and has been a soloist on "The Young Riders", "Star Trek - The Next Generation", "Voyager", "Batman Cartoons", "Superman Cartoons", and played the French Horn Solos in "Deep Space Nine". Brian has played in the orchestras for "The Carol Burnett Show", the "Emmy Awards", the "Academy Awards", and the "Miss America Pageant".
Credits also include ten years as Principal French Horn for the American Ballet Theater in Los Angeles and Principal Horn for the LAORT Opera Orchestra. Mr. O'Conner has also played Principal Horn for many years at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, the Greek Theater and Greek Theater Chamber Music, the Ahmanson Theater, and the Pantages Theater. He played Principal Horn in the original production of "Phantom of the Opera" in Los Angeles with Michael Crawford and "Sweeney Todd" with Angela Landsbury and George Hearn. He is also on the Executive Boards of the Los Angeles and International Chapters of the Recording Musicians Association.
Mr. O'Connor brings over twenty five years of professional experience in all area of the music business to his teaching duties at UCLA.
James Patterson
James Patterson
I have dedicated myself to building and modifying horns and have been doing so for the last nine years, the last 3 years working in my own shop, . During the short time I have had my own shop, I have received direct training from Lowell Greer and built all the necessary tooling used in the design and manufacture of classical as well as a baroque style natural horns. These horns have been tested in professional performance situations by myself and others and several times I have designed horns for specific performance needs. In addition, I have developed a series of leadpipes for modern horns and various enhancements aimed at improving existing instruments. I have exhibited my products at the IHS Symposiums in Eugene (1996) and Rochester (1997) as well as regional workshops.
James Patterson has achieved great success in both musical performance and the building of French Horns. Together with his wife, Cora, James founded Patterson Hornworks in 1997 after being involved with musical instrument repair, modification and design since 1980. He began his study of period instruments and 19th century building techniques with Dr. Lowell Greer, a noted period horn builder and performer. James began building natural horns later branching out into modifying and building modern instruments.
James has done extensive research and subsequently modifications on the instruments used by recording artists in Los Angeles. It was this work that gave birth to the Patterson Custom Horn. These horns can be heard in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and on virtually every movie soundtrack done in Hollywood.
A student of studio greats, Vince DeRosa and James Decker as well as LA Philharmonic member Ralph Pyle, James has used his talents on a variety of musical ensembles including period instrument ensembles, orchestras, jazz and recordings. James continues to perform as a freelance player.
James holds an honorary Doctor of Music Degree bestowed on him by the Geyer Guild, a think tank of horn makers, educators and horn historians.
"After taking the Patterson Horns to work and listening to the results, it became very clear that the Patterson Horn design helped to raise the recorded and performed Horn sound to a new and higher level." Brian O'Connor; Los Angeles recording artist
"It's nice to know there is still and American made instrument that deserves notice for the care and concern put into its manufacture. Kudos' for the superior quality and workmanship!" Chuck McAlexander, owner of the Brass Lab, NYC (repair shop)
John Groves
John Groves
John Groves is an active performer and teacher in the El Paso area. He has held the position of Assistant Principal Horn of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra for 27 years and Principal Horn of Opera El Paso since its founding 11 years ago. As an original member of the Quintessential Brass he has performed throughout the Southwest, Northern Mexico, and on the East Coast. In addition, he has performed solo recitals at universities across the United States. He holds Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Performance and Literature from Baylor University where he studied with William C. Robinson.
Mr. Groves has been a band director in Spring Branch ISD and El Paso ISD and served as Assistant Professor of Horn and Music Education at the University of Texas at El Paso for nine years. He is currently Assistant Band Director at Dr. Hornedo Middle School in El Paso and maintains a large studio of private students.
