Levels taught:
Beginner, IntermediateHi, I'm Shawn! I grew up in Tennessee, and am currently in Houston, TX studying French Horn Performance at Rice University. Thanks to modern technology, I'm available for online lessons wherever you live. I've been studying horn for over a decade, and have performed with internationally renowned ensembles. I regularly teach beginner students, high-schoolers, adult learners, and coach audition success using performance psychology and effective preparation techniques. Above all, I want my students to enjoy the process and love the music. I look forward to teaching you! -- Professional Bio: Shawn Z. is a professional horn player and student at Rice University, where he studies with world-renowned pedagogue and Principal Horn of the Houston Symphony, William VerMeulen. Previously, he was a Myra Jackson Blair Honor Scholar at Vanderbilt University’s Blair Academy, where he studied with Leslie Norton, Principal Horn of the Nashville Symphony. While attending the Interlochen Arts Academy, he studied with Corbin Wagner, former hornist in the Detroit Symphony. Shawn has performed with the Houston Symphony, and he made his concerto debut appearing with the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band as the winner of its solo competition. In 2017, he performed at Lincoln Center as a member of the Interlochen Arts Academy’s New York Philharmonic Residency. He has collaborated with eminent conductors including Marin Alsop, Ruth Reinhardt, James Ross, Giancarlo Guerrero, Bramwell Tovey, Ken-David Masur, and Sir Antonio Pappano. He is a National YoungArts Foundation winner, prizewinner of the Nashville Symphony Concerto Competition, Curb Youth Symphony Competition, and the Southeast Horn Workshop Solo Competition. He has been a Fellow at the National Orchestral Institute and Sarasota Music Festival, and has performed multiple times with the National Youth Orchestra in Carnegie Hall and on international tour. He has also spent three summers studying with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a student at the Tanglewood Institute. He is a regular collaborator performer with the Just for U Music Program (JUMP!), the Shepherd School of Music's musical outreach program that curates and performs educational programs for underserved middle-schoolers in Houston. As the founder of the Hanszen Family Chamber Music Festival at Rice University, he received a grant from the Sviatoslav Richter Fund for Music Outreach to help bring high quality chamber music directly to the student population.
Levels taught:
Beginner, IntermediateHi, I'm Shawn! I grew up in Tennessee, and am currently in Houston, TX studying French Horn Performance at Rice University. Thanks to modern technology, I'm available for online lessons wherever you live. I've been studying horn for over a decade, and have performed with internationally renowned ensembles. I regularly teach beginner students, high-schoolers, adult learners, and coach audition success using performance psychology and effective preparation techniques. Above all, I want my students to enjoy the process and love the music. I look forward to teaching you! -- Professional Bio: Shawn Z. is a professional horn player and student at Rice University, where he studies with world-renowned pedagogue and Principal Horn of the Houston Symphony, William VerMeulen. Previously, he was a Myra Jackson Blair Honor Scholar at Vanderbilt University’s Blair Academy, where he studied with Leslie Norton, Principal Horn of the Nashville Symphony. While attending the Interlochen Arts Academy, he studied with Corbin Wagner, former hornist in the Detroit Symphony. Shawn has performed with the Houston Symphony, and he made his concerto debut appearing with the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band as the winner of its solo competition. In 2017, he performed at Lincoln Center as a member of the Interlochen Arts Academy’s New York Philharmonic Residency. He has collaborated with eminent conductors including Marin Alsop, Ruth Reinhardt, James Ross, Giancarlo Guerrero, Bramwell Tovey, Ken-David Masur, and Sir Antonio Pappano. He is a National YoungArts Foundation winner, prizewinner of the Nashville Symphony Concerto Competition, Curb Youth Symphony Competition, and the Southeast Horn Workshop Solo Competition. He has been a Fellow at the National Orchestral Institute and Sarasota Music Festival, and has performed multiple times with the National Youth Orchestra in Carnegie Hall and on international tour. He has also spent three summers studying with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a student at the Tanglewood Institute. He is a regular collaborator performer with the Just for U Music Program (JUMP!), the Shepherd School of Music's musical outreach program that curates and performs educational programs for underserved middle-schoolers in Houston. As the founder of the Hanszen Family Chamber Music Festival at Rice University, he received a grant from the Sviatoslav Richter Fund for Music Outreach to help bring high quality chamber music directly to the student population.
My son has been learning with Shawn for a bit now. I can say that I absolutely recommend him as a French Horn teacher, as my son is now very engaged and interested in practicing and learning his instrument. Shawn has a great character, and most importantly cares greatly for his student's progress.
Shawn helped me prepare for college auditions and helped me get into my dream school. He knows exactly what the level is at the top music schools in the country and is able to help his students get there. I would recommend Shawn to anyone, no matter their experience or aspirations in music.
I had a few online lessons with Shawn to help prepare me for a college ensemble audition. He helped a lot with not just the music I was preparing, but also my practice structure overall. Got some great advice on audition prep mindset, how to practice, fundamentals, and of course the music I had to prepare. I ended up getting into the ensemble of my choice, so I'm very happy with the experience!
