Seminars

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Featuring Instructors Bill Hopson, Fritz Frautschi, Tony Brazelton, and Brian Priebe.

William Hopson

Permanent Residence: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Married, three children Citizenship: Canada Education: Bachelor of Music Degree, Oberlin College, 1976 Current Occupation: French Horn Player in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 1977

Combining his talents as a craftsman and a musician, he founded Rocky Mountain Alphorns to hand build a limited edition of superior instruments for professional Horn players and discriminating enthusiasts. His Alphorns feature beautifully carved and painted artwork and are often trimmed with the stunning hardwoods he gathers from every corner of the globe. William Hopson performs and records on a Rocky Mountain Alphorn made from Canadian Sitka Spruce with Australian Jarra Wood highlights.

He has recorded four compact discs of Alphorn music and published one volume of Alphorn music, all of which are sold worldwide.

William Hopson is widely regarded as one of the finest Alphorn soloist of his generation. In his travels he has introduced the music of the Alphorn to audiences in North America, Europe and Asia. As a champion of the music of Swiss composer Jean Daetwyler, he has performed "Concerto for Alphorn and Orchestra" with many orchestras, receiving in every case an enthusiastic ovation from the audience.

For more information about William Hopson, his Alphorns and his performing career, see his website at www.alphorn.ca

Fritz Frautschi

Permanent Residence: Schönried, Switzerland Citizenship: Switzerland Current Occupation: Music Professor, Alphorn Teacher, Business Director

Fritz Frautschi was born in Schönried (Saanenland, Switzerland) in 1957. By the time he was in fifth grade Fritz had learned his first tricks on the trumpet from the local postman. Eventually he received intensive training as the solo Cornettist at the school of music in Saanenland. This school is noted as the creative centre of brass band music for the Berner Oberland region, and while he was there Fritz won many honours and competitions. During this time he attended many courses and seminars abroad while performing as the solo Cornettist with the Swiss Army Wind Orchestra, the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland, and the "Harmony" Brass Band Of Saanenland, for which he served as director for five years.

Today Fritz teaches at the Saanenland Obersimmental School of Music, leads Alphorn courses and performances at the Swiss Alphorn School, and serves as a member of the Alphorn jury for the Swiss Yodeler Federation (which oversees all Alphorn competitions in Switzerland). Additionally, he teaches privately and directs the operations of Fritz Frautschi Alphorn-Atelier, which deals in all products related to the Alphorn.

Brian Priebe

Permanent Residence: Washington, DC, USA Citizenship: United States Current Occupation: Professional Musician

Brian is a gifted music director, singer and world-class instrumentalist playing both Trombone and Swiss Alphorn. He is a former member of the Utah Chamber Orchestra performing with Ballet West. The sound of his horn can be heard on numerous movie and TV soundtracks and commercials.

Competing on the Swiss Alphorn in 2007, he took 2nd place in the International Alphorn Festival in Nendaz, Switzerland. 120 competitors came from around the globe to the festival, but the biggest surprise was the American's 2nd place win. Never before has an American reached the finals of the competition which has been dominated by the Swiss since its inception.

A crowd of over 2,000 alphorn lovers basked in a lush mountain meadow as the sun glinted off a spectacular mountain lake setting the stage for the competition. A renowned panel of international alphorn stars judged the competitors on technique, musicality and "Authentic Swiss Style".

Tony Brazelton

Current position: Founder of the North American Alphorn Retreat and Salzburger Echo Married, two children Citizenship: United States of America Current Occupation: Secretary/Treasurer of Local 104, American Federation of Musicians

Salzburger Echo, which brings the Alps to their audi­ences, playing Old World and contemporary folk music from the alpine regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzer­land. The band regularly plays some of the largest Okto­berfests in the nation as well as having performed at hun­dreds of elementary schools across the nation to help teach children about the origin of the music and about the music itself.

Tony was the third place finisher at the 2008 international alphorn competition in Nendaz, Switzerland.

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