David Byrd-Marrow
Hailed as “stunning and assured” by the New York Times, Atlanta native David Byrd-Marrow is a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble, as well as The Knights. Working with a uniquely wide range of performers, he has premiered works by Anna Webber, Hilda Paredes, George Lewis, Paul Wiancko, Du Yun, Marcos Balter, Eric Wubbels and Jörg Widmann.
David enjoys an active chamber music calendar, and has performed at festivals including the Ojai Music Festival, the Spoleto Music Festival, the Mostly Mozart Festival, the Tanglewood Music Center, Summerfest! at the La Jolla Music Society, the Denver Chamber Music Festival, and more. Formerly a member of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, he has also made appearances with the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Atlanta, Seattle and Tokyo symphony orchestras, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, the Metropolitan Opera and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He has recorded on many labels including Tundra, More Is More, Nonesuch, EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, and Naxos.
Mr. Byrd-Marrow received his Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School and Master of Music from Stony Brook University. He is the Associate Professor of Horn at Oberlin College and Conservatory.
Elizabeth Freimuth
Elizabeth Freimuth is the Professor of Horn at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Most recently, Liz was the Principal horn of the Cincinnati Symphony from 2006-2026. Elizabeth was also principal horn of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra (2005-2006), principal horn of the Kansas City Symphony (2000-2005) and assistant principal/ utility horn of the Colorado Symphony (1998-2000).
Elizabeth has performed as the featured soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Butler County Symphony (PA), Johnson City Symphony Orchestra (TN), Overland Park Symphony (KS) and the Lakewood Symphony (CO). She has also performed as a guest principal horn with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, KBS Symphony (Korea), St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Saint Louis Symphony. She has been a Featured Artist at International Horn Symposiums at Ball State University, IN (2018) and University of Memphis, TN (2013) and a featured artist at the International Women’s Brass Conference, University of Northern Kentucky (2014).
Elizabeth has also served as an Adjunct instructor at the University of Cincinnati, CCM (2011-2024). From 2002-2005, she taught as the Horn Teacher at the University of Missouri in Kansas City Conservatory of Music. She has given numerous master classes and has done guest teaching at The New World Symphony in Miami, FL, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, The Eastman School of Music, Rice University, The Beijing Conservatory in China, The University of Evansville, San Francisco Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, Dayton University, West Virginia University, Ohio State University, University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Northern Iowa and Interlochen School of the Arts. In 2011, she was the distinguished featured artist and clinician at Blast of Brass, a summer brass intensive for students in Dallas, TX.
During the summer, Elizabeth attends numerous music festivals to teach and perform. Some of those festivals have included Brevard Music Festival, Aspen, Sun Valley Music Festival, National Orchestra Institute, National Youth Orchestra and the Grand Teton Music Festival. Since 2019, she has co-hosted a summer Horn Intensive at the Eastman School of Music for high school and pre-professional students.
In 2022, Elizabeth was invited to serve on the Board of Directors for the International Horn Competition of America and holds the position of Co-Director. She is also on the Advisory Council for the International Horn Society.
Elizabeth is a graduate and recipient of the coveted Performer’s Certificate of the Eastman School of Music (B.M. Horn Performance and B.M. Instrumental Music Education).
She is also a graduate of Rice University Shepherd School of Music (M.M.)
Eric Reed
Eric Reed is the horn player of the American Brass Quintet, and co-principal horn of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Also, a member of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, he is a regular guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and is a former member of the Canadian Brass, Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect and the New Jersey, Oregon, New World, and Harrisburg symphonies. He serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School, New York University and The Mannes School of Music at The New School.
Eric has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra and International Contemporary Ensemble, and as Guest Principal Horn with the New Jersey Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, and American Ballet Theater. He is a member of Brassology, a genre-bending brass octet formed in 2023, and Ensemble Échappé, a sinfonietta dedicated to music of the 21st century. Recent world premieres include chamber works by Jennifer Higdon, John Zorn, Nina C. Young, Anthony Barfield, Cait Nishimura, Eric Ewazen, William Bolcom, David Biedenbender, Philip Lasser, Kenneth Fuchs and Timo Andres.
Eric’s festival appearances include Aspen, Bridgehampton, Bard, Emerald City, North Shore, Crescent City, Cape Cod, Steamboat Springs, and Mostly Mozart. He holds degrees from Rice University and The Juilliard School and resides in The Bronx with his wife, violinist Sarah Zun, and their sons Oliver and Elliot.
Alberto Suarez
Alberto Suarez joined the faculty of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance as Assistant Professor of Horn in 2023. Suarez was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, and raised in South Florida. He served as Principal Horn of the Kansas City Symphony from 2006 until his retirement in 2024. Suarez spends his summers performing and teaching at the Round Top Festival Institute.
Suarez has served as guest Principal Horn with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Fort Worth Symphony. He was a member of the New World Symphony from 2002-2006 and toured internationally with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, New World Symphony, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. In addition to performing with the Kansas City Symphony, Suarez performs locally as Principal Horn of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony and the Overland Park Symphony. In 2019, Suarez performed as Principal Horn of the New World Symphony Alumni Orchestra at the 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors celebrating the world-renowned conductor, composer, pianist, and educator Michael Tilson Thomas.
Suarez is proud to serve as a member of the Artist Council for the National Alliance for Audition Support, a field-wide initiative with the long-term goal of increasing representation in American orchestras. In addition, he is a member of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, a unique all Black and Latinx orchestra comprised of top professionals from all over the country. In January 2023, Suarez celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, by serving as Principal Horn on a tour, featuring a sold-out performance at the Kennedy Center.
Suarez has taught masterclasses at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, University of Michigan, University of Miami, University of Kansas, Wichita State University, University of Iowa, Missouri Western State University, University of Louisville, Baylor University, University of Denver and the New World Symphony.
Interstellar Quartet 