The Horn Signal

Episode #17 - David Cooper

The Horn Signal is proudly brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass [https://bobreeves.com/]. Join hosts John Snell [john.snell@bobreeves.com] and Preston Shepard [preston@bobreeves.com] as they interview horn players around the world. Today's episode features David Cooper [https://cooperhorn.com/], associate principal horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. About David: David Cooper [https://cooperhorn.com/] is recognized as one of the best horn players of his generation, known for his lyrical phrasing and exceptional technique. He was appointed Principal Horn of the New York Philharmonic in May 2026 by Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. Cooper's orchestral career began as Acting Principal Horn with the Victoria Symphony and Co-Associate Principal Horn of the Fort Worth Symphony. He then served as Principal Horn of the Dallas Symphony (joining as Third Horn in 2011 and becoming Principal Horn in 2013), Solo Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic, Principal Horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Associate Principal Horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has won Principal Horn positions with the National Symphony Orchestra (2013) and the San Francisco Symphony (2023), and has been guest Principal Horn with numerous orchestras worldwide, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico, Liceu Opera in Barcelona, London Symphony Orchestra, Utopia Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He joined the Oslo Philharmonic on its 2024 European Tour as Principal Horn under Chief Conductor Klaus Mäkelä. Cooper maintains an active schedule as an international soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and festival orchestra performer. He has also participated in numerous film and TV soundtracks, including the most recent Superman, Moana 2, Hoppers, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and The Mandalorian and Grogu. Dedicated to inspiring and cultivating the next generation of musicians, Cooper coaches and presents masterclasses internationally. He founded Horns for Hope, Inc. [https://www.hornsforhope.com/], a non-profit supporting young musicians in underserved communities, and served as Artist Faculty at Roosevelt University and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Born in Lansing, Michigan, into a musical family, Cooper began horn studies with Dr. Dale Bartlett and joined the Michigan State University Orchestra while in high school. He received his Bachelor's degree from The Curtis Institute of Music, where he received a Tanglewood Fellowship, and spent three summers at Marlboro Music Festival. His primary instructors are Jerome Ashby and Eric Ruske. Cooper's discography includes the album "Berkeley, Brahms, Leshnoff: Horn Trios" with violinist Alexander Kerr and pianist Orion Weiss, and two solo albums, "Impressions" and "A French Horn and Piano Collaboration" with pianist Cary Chow. These are available on all streaming platforms.

Episode #16 - Laura Brenes

The Horn Signal is proudly brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass [https://bobreeves.com/]. Join hosts John Snell [john.snell@bobreeves.com] and Preston Shepard [preston@bobreeves.com] as they interview horn players around the world. Today's episode features LA/Hollywood Studio Hornist, Laura Brenes [https://connselmer.com/artists/laura-brenes]. About Laura: French Horn player, Laura Brenes began playing horn when she was 9 years old. She decided to give life as a professional musician a shot after being a part of the "Disney Collegiate All-Star Band" in 1999. After that, she studied with the legendary Vince DeRosa while obtaining her master's degree at the University of Southern California. While still in school, she began performing with local orchestras and various ensembles. She has been able to perform in numerous diverse musical situations. Some highlights include being a part of the orchestra for the academy awards, touring the world with groups including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performing concerts with Danny Elfman at the Coachella music festival, and becoming a Guiness Book of World Records Record holder for being a part of the largest ever orchestra for a hip-hop concert. Over the years, the majority of her work has been in the recording studio where she can be heard on hundreds of soundtracks for all types of media. Among the titles are "Star Wars," "Oppenheimer," "West Side Story (2021)," "Frozen," "The Fablemans," "Turning Red," "Disenchanted," "Jungle Cruise," "Free Guy," "Encanto," "Avatar," "SpongeBob," "Inside Out," and many more. Laura has been solo principal horn for many projects including John Williams' series "Obi Wan (2022)." She released a solo album in 2015 entitled "a Time and a Place" which can be found on all platforms.

Episode #15 - John Little

The Horn Signal is proudly brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass [https://bobreeves.com/]. Join hosts John Snell [john.snell@bobreeves.com] and Preston Shepard [preston@bobreeves.com] as they interview horn players around the world. Today's episode features John Little [https://www.johnlittlewunderhorn.com/], horn soloist, and teacher. About John: John Little [https://www.johnlittlewunderhorn.com/] has been a touring member of the Starlight Horn Duo, been a featured artist at the Northeast Horn Workshop, a teaching clinician for the Northeast Horn Workshop, performed as a featured soloist at the KMEA, KMTA, Southern Indiana Mozart Festival, with the Jewish Community Orchestra, The Kentuckiana Philharmonic, The Christian Academy of Louisville Wind Ensemble, Featured artist/clinician at the Ohio University Horn Weekend, and most recently at Murray State University, and Campbellsville University, The University of Kentucky, Valdosta State University, The University of Illinois, and The University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory. His latest solo album, Horn Evolution is on the Parma label, and can be heard on tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, and others. His previous release "Hornistic" can be heard on Spotify, and all streaming services. Mr. Little has taught horn at Centre College, the University of Louisville Community Music Program, and has twice been artist in residence at Bellarmine University, as well as being Instructor of horn at Campbellsville University. In 2008 he was awarded the MTNA STaR award for outstanding teaching, and is an MTNA certified Master Teacher. His former students have won positions with the orchestras of Richmond (VA), Louisville, Fort Wayne, Annapolis, Santiago Chile, The Chicago Civic, and a professorship of horn position at Campbellsville University. John Little is a representative of Buffet Crampon USA, and is a Hans Hoyer concert artist [https://www.hans-hoyer.com/en/artist/john-little/], performing on a Meister Hans Hoyer horn, and is a Parma recording artist. He teaches modern horn, hand horn, baroque horn, peak performance, and performance practice.

Episode #14 - Kaylet Torrez

The Horn Signal is proudly brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass [https://bobreeves.com/]. Join hosts John Snell [john.snell@bobreeves.com] and Preston Shepard [preston@bobreeves.com] as they interview horn players around the world. Today's episode features Kaylet Torrez [https://www.instagram.com/kaylettorrez/], of the Pacific Symphony, and studio horn player. About Kaylet: Kaylet Torrez began her musical studies at the age of three through Venezuela's renowned El Sistema program and started studying the horn at age eight. From 2004 to 2014, she was a member of the horn section of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, performing in major concert halls including the Berlin Philharmonie, Royal Albert Hall, KKL Lucerne, Beethovenhalle Bonn, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Teatro alla Scala, among others. In 2014, she was appointed Principal Horn of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. In 2015, she received a full scholarship to study at the Colburn School in Los Angeles with Andrew Bain. Since 2016, Kaylet has performed with major orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, appearing frequently as a guest principal horn. She has also toured internationally with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Pacific Symphony. In 2018, she joined the roster of Hollywood studio musicians and has recorded for major motion pictures including The Lion King, Jumanji, Minions, Bumblebee, Predator, Aquaman, and Terminator, among others. In 2025, Kaylet won the Associate Principal Horn audition with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. She continues to appear as a guest principal horn internationally and is regularly invited to perform at festivals and special projects. An active educator, Kaylet has presented masterclasses and educational programs in Los Angeles (including UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music), Mexico City, and Colombia. She currently serves as Assistant Principal Horn of the Pacific Symphony, a position she has held since 2017, and maintains a private studio where she mentors young horn players in orchestral performance, studio work, and audition preparation.

Episode #13 - Preston Shepard

The Horn Signal is proudly brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass [https://bobreeves.com/] and the Colburn School Summer Brass Institute [https://colburnschool.edu/summer-music-camps-los-angeles/los-angeles-brass-institute/]. Join hosts John Snell [john.snell@bobreeves.com] and Preston Shepard [preston@bobreeves.com] as they interview horn players around the world. Today's episode features Preston Shepard [https://www.prestonshepard.com/], Los Angeles freelance horn player and podcast host. About Preston Shepard: Preston Shepard is an active free-lance hornist in the Los Angeles area. A student of Joseph Meyer, he studied at Cal State University Northridge and Azusa Pacific University. Preston has performed with the San Diego Symphony, the Los Angeles Opera, Pacific Symphony, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Long Beach Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Opera Santa Barbara, San Bernardino Symphony, New West Symphony, Redlands Symphony, Riverside Philharmonic, Santa Maria Symphony, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, and many others around the Greater Los Angeles area. He has also recorded on numerous feature films, television shows and specials such as Avatar 2, Zootopia 2, Hocus Pocus 2, Aquaman 2, Wish, Encanto : Live at the Hollywood Bowl, The Game Awards, Big City Greens, The Nun, The Boogeyman, Geostorm, Inhumans, The Orville, Blood and Treasure, Homecoming Season 2, Star Trek : Lower Decks, Picard, Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Solar Opposites, and Presumed Innocent as well as for video game projects such as Fortnite, Overwatch and League of Legends. He has also recorded on albums for artists such as Avenged Sevenfold and Deadmau5. Preston is the adjunct professor of horn at Westmont College and The Master's University.