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Brass · 156 verified programs with a french horn pathway

French Horn: degrees, diplomas and programs

Horn study centres on a demanding, wide-ranging brass instrument at the heart of orchestral, chamber and wind literature.

Also called: Horn, Waldhorn, Cor, Corno, Trompa.

What the listings below mean

A program is listed for french horn only where its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study pathway. These are formal degree, diploma or certificate pathways; the page says which. An instrument taught in private lessons, or a teacher on the faculty, does not create a listing.

82 Bachelor’s · 59 Master’s · 8 Diploma · 4 Practice doctorate · 3 Certificate · 4 formal principal-study pathway, 127 named major, 25 named in the program title

156 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

Published french horn audition repertoire

Copied from each program’s own admissions page. Requirements are specific to the program and intake: follow the link and check the current year.

  • University of Iowa: Bachelor of Music (BM)
    • Prescreening | No prescreening is required. | Preparation requirements | Applicants should prepare 10-minutes of music consisting of 2-4 contrasting selections for the horn that best represents them artistically. These could include, but are not limited to: | original arrangements, compositions, and/or improvisations | works by underrepresented composers | selections in the Western Art Music tradition (i.e. horn solos, études, orchestral/band excerpts.* | * See Repertoire section | Time requirement | The audition will be in a lesson format with a duration of 20-30 minutes. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment required | Technical requirements | Major scales – 2 octaves; ascending and descending; up to 4 sharps and 4 flats from memory. | Chromatic scale – 2-3 octaves; ascending and descending from starting tone of choice. | Sight-reading | Repertoire | Example étude books: | Kate Caliendo, 3-in-1 Designer Range Études for French Horn | Paul Basler, 100 Études for Horn (2020) | Jacques-François Gallay, 12 Études for Second Horn, Op. 57 | Georg Kopprasch, 60 Selected Studies | Maxime-Alph
  • Lawrence University: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
    • Please prepare 8-10 minutes of music that represent your level of playing within different styles, technical complexity, high and low registers, and pieces that you like and reflect your musical interest. | An introductory video is required for recorded auditions | You do not need accompaniment. If you are doing a pre-recorded audition, the pieces may be recorded separately.
  • DePaul University: Bachelor of Music
    • We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Audition Repertoire | Prepare two contrasting movements from the standard solo repertoire (either the same piece or two different pieces). | C major scale (not concert key): ​​Start on middle C | ​​​Play any speed or articulation up to high C | ​​​​Then all the way back down past middle C to pedal C
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Bachelor of Music
    • Horn: Audition Requirements Undergraduate Etude by Kopprasch, or the equivalent Solo or concerto selected by the student Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts Graduate Solo or concerto selected by the student Advanced etude (Gallay, Kling or Maxime-Alphonse) Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Master of Music
    • Horn: Audition Requirements Undergraduate Etude by Kopprasch, or the equivalent Solo or concerto selected by the student Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts Graduate Solo or concerto selected by the student Advanced etude (Gallay, Kling or Maxime-Alphonse) Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Graduate Diploma
    • Horn: Audition Requirements Undergraduate Etude by Kopprasch, or the equivalent Solo or concerto selected by the student Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts Graduate Solo or concerto selected by the student Advanced etude (Gallay, Kling or Maxime-Alphonse) Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Diploma
    • Horn: Audition Requirements Undergraduate Etude by Kopprasch, or the equivalent Solo or concerto selected by the student Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts Graduate Solo or concerto selected by the student Advanced etude (Gallay, Kling or Maxime-Alphonse) Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Certificate
    • Horn: Audition Requirements Undergraduate Etude by Kopprasch, or the equivalent Solo or concerto selected by the student Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts Graduate Solo or concerto selected by the student Advanced etude (Gallay, Kling or Maxime-Alphonse) Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Horn: Audition Requirements Undergraduate Etude by Kopprasch, or the equivalent Solo or concerto selected by the student Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts Graduate Solo or concerto selected by the student Advanced etude (Gallay, Kling or Maxime-Alphonse) Selected contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • DePaul University: Master of Music
    • ​​We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Audition Repertoire | ​One movement or section from one concerto or solo work and one contrasting movement or section from a different concerto or solo work​​. (Two different solo sections in total) | Four contrasting orchestral or operatic excerpts
  • Northwestern University: Bachelor of Music
    • Audition dates: | Early Decision: November 21 | Regular Decision: February 5-6, 12-13 | For Prescreening: | One solo movement demonstrating style, tone, range, rhythm, and technique, such as Strauss Horn Concerto No.1, first movement or Hindemith Sonata in F, first movement | First-movement exposition from any Mozart concerto | One étude from Maxime Alphonse Book No.3 | Required Orchestral Excerpts: | Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, 3rd movement (scherzo) | Brahms, Symphony No. 3, solo beginning at measure 98 or rehearsal F (poco allegretto) | Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks , opening first horn solo | For Final Audition: | Two contrasting solo pieces demonstrating style, tone, range, rhythm, and technique, such as Strauss Horn Concerto No.1, first movement and Hindemith Sonata in F, first movement | First movement exposition section from any Mozart concerto | One étude from Maxime Alphonse Book No. 3 | Sight-reading | Required Orchestral Excerpts: | Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, 3rd movement (scherzo) | Brahms, Symphony No. 3, solo beginning at measure 98 or rehearsal F (poco Allegretto) | Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks , opening first horn solo
  • Northwestern University: Master of Music
    • Audition dates: | February 5-6, 12-13 | For Prescreening: | Solo Repertoire: | One solo movement of a sonata demonstrating style, tone, range, rhythm, and technique | Exposition section from any Mozart concerto | Exposition section from any Strauss concerto | One étude from Maxime Alphonse Book No. 5 | Required Orchestral Excerpts: | Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, Horn 4 (3rd movement, mm 82-99) | Brahms, Symphony No. 2, Horn 1 (1st and 2nd movement solos) OR Symphony No. 3, Horn 1 (3rd movement solo) | Strauss, Ein Heldenleben , Horn 1 (opening call) | For Final Audition: | Schumann Adagio and Allegro, Op.70 (first page) | Erika Raum, Confessions of St. Augustine (movement 1 only) OR Persichetti, Parable VIII for solo horn (complete) | First-movement exposition section from any Mozart concerto | Required Orchestral Excerpts: | Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, Horn 4 (3rd movement, mm 82-99) | Brahms, Symphony No. 2, Horn 1 (1st and 2nd movement solos) OR Symphony No. 3, Horn 1 (3rd movement solo) | Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, Horn 1 (low tutti section, 1st movement) | Wagner, Götterdämmerung , "Short Call" | Strauss, Ein Heldenleben , Horn 1 (opening call)

About french horn study

The horn is a coiled brass instrument with a flared bell, played with a funnel-shaped mouthpiece and a right hand placed in the bell to adjust pitch and tone. Its harmonic series is closely spaced in the upper register, so accuracy is a recurring challenge, and degree-level students put considerable work into ear training, breath control and flexibility. Most players use a double horn, which combines two sets of tubing for F and B-flat.

The horn has a central role in orchestras, wind quintets and brass quintets, and the solo literature includes concertos by classical and romantic composers and a growing contemporary repertoire. Many programs also teach natural horn, which has no valves, as part of historical performance, as well as the use of stopped and muted effects. Band and wind ensemble participation is common, and studio classes often cover orchestral excerpts in depth.

Typical degree contexts include the Bachelor of Music in horn performance, the Master of Music, and practice doctorates such as the Doctor of Musical Arts. Because horn sections are small and the instrument is hard to master, there is steady demand for capable players in student ensembles. Programs differ in whether they emphasise orchestral preparation, chamber playing or a broader training that includes teaching.

What study typically involves

  • Horn tone, breath control and accuracy across the registers
  • Solo repertoire and concertos
  • Orchestral excerpts and section playing
  • Wind quintet and brass quintet playing
  • Natural horn and historical performance in some programs
  • Transposition and reading in different keys
  • Sight-reading, ear training and theory
  • Pedagogy and stopped or muted techniques

Award titles. French horn study can lead to a Bachelor of Music or BMus and a Master of Music or MMus. Some conservatories award an Artist Diploma or a graduate or postgraduate diploma to advanced players; these are diploma-level awards and not master's degrees. The Doctor of Musical Arts is a practice doctorate. Names vary by country, and no equivalence claims are made here.

A program is listed under French horn in this directory only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. A private teacher or a faculty hornist does not count. Not every school offers horn as a degree specialization, and some group brass players under a broader heading.

Auditions and admissions guidance

General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Horn auditions are generally live, with recorded prescreening used by some schools. Applicants usually perform contrasting works, scales and etudes, and for graduate entry orchestral excerpts. Panels listen closely for pitch accuracy, tone, clean attacks and musical shaping, and may probe the player's transposition skills.

An accompanist is typically needed for concerto movements, with provision varying by school. Sight-reading, theory and aural tests are common, and interviews may be part of the process.

Each program publishes its own repertoire and format, and these change by year, so applicants should read the current-year requirements for every school. Nothing here guarantees admission.

See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.

Costs and funding

Horn players are sought by orchestras and wind ensembles, and programs may link scholarships to those needs. Graduate students could be considered for assistantships such as brass quintet coaching, sectional leadership or teaching non-majors.

Terms vary by school, country and year, and many students receive partial support or none. Check each program's funding information.

Costs beyond tuition. Horn players may pay for an instrument, with professional double horns representing a large expense, plus mouthpieces, mutes, cases, valve and rotor oil and servicing. Natural horn study may need a separate instrument. Accompanist fees and audition travel are other possibilities.