Thomas Jöstlein

Assistant Professor of Horn

Appointed Assistant Professor of Horn in 2009, Thomas Jöstlein hopes to bring liberation from the horn, high standards, and a joy of music making to the studio. As the father of a 2 year-old boy (Klaus), he witnesses this joy and freedom on a daily basis. Musically speaking, it is thanks to his great mentors, Tubists Arnold Jacobs and Roger Rocco, that Thomas has the knowledge to effect this change in his students. His playing background is varied, bridging many schools of horn playing as well as a keen sense of the European solo style.

Mr. Jöstlein studied with hornists William VerMeulen and Thomas Bacon at Rice University, and privately with hornists David Krehbiel and Philip Farkas among others. Thomas was the New York Philharmonic's Assistant Principal Horn from 2007-2009, playing all positions, including Principal and third Horn. Under the direction of music director Lorin Maazel he performed on three major tours, including at the Lucerne Festival, the Proms, and on the historic live broadcast from North Korea in 2008. Previously, he held positions with the Honolulu, Omaha, Richmond, and Kansas City symphony orchestras over a course of thirteen years.

As a soloist he won first prize in the professional division of the American Horn Competition in 2003 and the grand prize at the Hugo Kauder Music Competition at Yale University in 2005, earning a recital at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. He has appeared as a soloist with the Richmond Symphony, the Britt Festival Orchestra, and the Lancaster Festival Orchestra to name a few. He has performed countless chamber music programs, and has recorded several commercial jingles and musicals in New York City. As a college teacher, Professor Jöstlein previously taught at the University of Hawaii and Virginia Commonwealth University. Born in Port Jefferson, New York, he was raised in Naperville, Illinois, by German parents. His father is a retired particle physicist at Fermilab and an amateur musician, and his sister, Barbara Currie, is fourth horn at The Metropolitan Opera. His wife, Tricia, was formerly principal horn of the Omaha Symphony, principal horn of the Des Moines Metro Opera, second with the Richmond Symphony, and is currently a member of the Britt Festival orchestra.

He welcomes all hornists with a passion for music and who love the pursuit of excellence. He feels privileged to to join the talented faculty at UIUC, and to perform with his peers on a regular basis, notably with the Illinois Brass Quintet and the Sinfonia da Camera. Professor Jöstlein is ready to make all students' dreams come true, be it leading a successful band program, joining a chamber ensemble, or winning orchestral or band auditions. He welcomes all interested musicians to contact him at jostlein@illinois.edu