John Ericson

John Ericson, Professor of Music at Arizona State University, is one of the most visible horn players today with wide-ranging experience as an orchestral player, soloist, and teacher. Ericson began his professional career as Third Horn in the Nashville Symphony, where he served for six seasons. From there, he turned to teaching, first at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam) and next at Arizona State University, where he has taught since 2001. 

With over 25 years of teaching experience, his students have won positions around the world teaching at the college level and performing in orchestras and military bands. Ericson holds degrees from Indiana University (where he served as teaching assistant to Michael Hatfield for three years), the Eastman School of Music (where he studied with Verne Reynolds), and Emporia State University, his hometown university. He has performed and taught on the summer faculties of the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Brevard Music Center, and has served two terms on the advisory council of the International Horn Society. Currently, he is proud to serve as an ex officio board member of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp. 

Ericson has also released three solo CDs on the Summit label which were received with critical acclaim. His first CD, Les Adeiux, was commended by The Horn Call for "fantastic playing.... The level of musicality, nuance and artistry is not to be missed." His second project, Canto, was hailed as a "terrific collaboration between horn and piano." Among many other orchestral, chamber music, and studio recording projects, Ericson also performed on the Grammy-nominated album Fourth World, of Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai.

Co-founder of the online magazine Horn Matters, his publications are a reflection of his teaching, as well as his interest in problem-solving and improving the pedagogy of the horn. With his additional enthusiasm for all instruments of the middle brass and the history of the horn, Ericson has published print and online publications on topics as diverse as the mellophone and the Wagner tuba. 

Ericson is a recipient of the Harold Meek Memorial Award and the Punto Award from the International Horn Society, and has performed and presented sessions at seven international horn symposiums and numerous regional events. A firm believer that everyone needs a hobby, Ericson recently published one of his lifelong projects, a book documenting the definitive history of American OO gauge model trains.