Biography
Brian Horner has enjoyed a rewarding partnership with composer M. Zachary Johnson that has resulted in the premieres of more than ten new works for saxophone. Their concerts have been presented at such venues as Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Steinway Hall and New York City's Mannes College of Music, as well as at the Glimmerglass Opera's Young Artist recital series in Cooperstown, NY. Joined by pianist Elizabeth Avery, they released Saxophone Music of M. Zachary Johnson--Live At Steinway Hall in August 2006. In reviewing the CD, Saxophone Journal praises Mr. Horner's "warm, vibrant sound" and hails the music as "a very valuable addition to the saxophone's repertoire." The album rose to become a “Top Seller” at premier online retailer CD Baby during August, 2006.
Serenade - Music for Saxophone & Piano, a studio album of M. Zachary Johnson's compositions, was released by Sound Artist Records on October 14, 2008.
A versatile player, Horner has performed with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, appeared with the Nashville Saxophone Quartet on National Public Radio affiliate WPLN's "Live in Studio C" and shared the stage with noted Armenian folk-rocker Gor Mkhitarian. He can be heard on singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters' Halcyon album, which features his soprano saxophone performance on "The Aviator's Song,” broadcast throughout England and Scotland. As a member of The Arbor Quartet, Horner was a prizewinner in the 1998 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana, and a finalist in the 1999 Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Pasadena, California.
Horner graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, where he studied with Donald Sinta, and currently serves on the faculty at Austin Peay State University (Tennessee). He is also deeply involved in the business side of music and is the owner of Sound Artist Support, a company that provides custom support, marketing and booking to independent artists and musicians.
Brian Horner is a Conn-Selmer artist and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones. He is also a D'Addario/RICO Performing Artist and endorses RICO Grand Concert Select reeds.
Discography
Gretchen Peters - Halcyon (2004 - Curb)
Aaron Stayman - Human Condition (2005 - Deerslayer)
Nashville Chamber Orchestra - Kid Pan Alley Nashville (2006 - Compass)
Brian Horner/Elizabeth Avery - Saxophone Music of M. Zachary Johnson - Live At Steinway Hall
(2006 - CD Baby)
Larry The Cable Guy - Christmastime In Larryland (2007 - Warner Bros.) - brief speaking part!
Brian Horner/Elizabeth Avery - Serenade - Music For Saxophone & Piano (2008 - Sound Artist)
Premieres
Two Wedding Pieces for Soprano Saxophone & Horn (w/Erin Horner)
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
New York, NY - May, 2007
Adagio for Alto Saxophone & Piano
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
New York, NY - May, 2007
Three Songs for Tenor Voice, Alto Saxophone & Piano (revised)
"Summum Bonum" - "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" - "She Walks In Beauty"
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
New York, NY - May, 2007
Scherzo-Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (w/Austin Peay State University Wind Ensemble)
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Austin Peay State University Concert Hall
Clarksville, TN - February, 2007
Grand Sonata for Alto Saxophone & Piano
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Steinway Hall
New York, NY - May, 2006
Ouroboros (w/Nashville Chamber Orchestra)
Composer: J. Mark Scearce
Polk Theater - Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Nashville, TN - September, 2005
Two Songs for Tenor Voice, Alto Saxophone & Piano
"The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" - "She Walks In Beauty"
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Glimmerglass Opera - Young Artist Recital Series
Cooperstown, NY - July, 2004
Scherzo for Alto Saxophone & Piano
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
Middle Tennessee State University Saxophone Festival
Murfreesboro, TN - February, 2002
Serenade for Alto Saxophone
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
The Mannes College of Music
New York, NY - December, 2000
Scherzo for Alto Saxophone
Composer: M. Zachary Johnson
The Mannes College of Music
New York, NY - December, 2000
Elijah - Concerto for Alto Saxophone
Composer: Chad W. Hughes
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI - April, 1999
