Adam Ronthal

Horn

How many years have you played with EPO?

I started with the EPO in 2003, shortly after moving to Toronto from Boston.

What is your experience as a musician?

After a few unsuccessful attempts at instrumental music ending in grade 9 on flute, I took a break. I picked up horn after my first year in university, and played primarily in the Yale Concert Band. In my final year, I played 6th horn in Ein Heldenleiben with the Yale Symphony Orchestra, which was loads of fun. I've always had the dubious pleasure of being one of the less experienced musicians in every group I've played in, but EPO gave me a chance, and a place to improve!

What do you do outside of the orchestra?

I'm a Research Vice President at Gartner covering data management and analytics. I have two kids—one pursuing a degree in horn performance at UofT (yes, he's subbed in with the EPO before), and one just finishing up high school. When not travelling for work or attending rehearsals, I also enjoy a regular game of tennis.

Why did you choose the horn?

There are two answers here. The primary one is that I fell in love with the sound of the instrument. As Robert Schumann said, "The sound of the horn is the soul of the orchestra." I couldn't agree more. The second reason is that I fell in with a bad crowd in university (musicians... don't tell anyone), and one of them was a horn player who later turned pro. He was an early mentor to me.

How do you feel the horn is best used in the orchestra?

When composing Ein Heldenleiben (A Hero's Life), Richard Strauss wrote "... I am filling a desperate need by composing a tone poem of substantial length entitled A Hero’s Life, which has no funeral march to be sure, but is yet in E-flat major with lots of horn sound, since horns are, after all, the thing for heroism." And that's what the horn is... a symbol of heroism. The instrument can, of course be used for evil as well as good (ask any horn player who's played a concert of John Philip Sousa marches), but used with skill, it can blend into the background providing just the right mix of tone colour, and then burst into the spotlight.