John Cerminaro
The Charles Simonyi Principal Horn
Birthday: April 7th (of the year they released "Miracle on 34th Street")
Birthplace: Navasota, Texas
Education: The Juilliard School; Aspen Music School
Prior orchestral experience: Principal Horn, New York Philharmonic; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Milwaukee Symphony; Houston Symphony; Dallas Symphony; Aspen Festival Orchestra
Joined SSO: 1995
Soloed with SSO: many times
Awards: Naumberg Award; Concert Artist's Guild (First Prize); Prague International Competition winner
Recent recordings: Mozart Horn Concertos with Seattle Symphony (Crystal Records); "Screamers" (Crystal Records); Brahms Horn Trio (EMI)
What is your earliest musical memory? Watching and hearing my father conducting a band concert. Being moved to tears by the music.
When did you know you wanted to be a professional musician? at 10 years old
Who were your most important musical influences? my father and mother, who played clarinet and trumpet and were both teachers
What type of instrument do you play? a triple French horn made by Schmid (Germany) and customized over the years in various ways using various parts
If you could play another instrument, what would it be? concert piano
What are your duties as Principal? interpret the music, lead the horn section and relay instructions from the Music Director
What personal traits are required of a Principal? a good musician, a good leader and must inspire audience and colleagues
What is your favorite aspect about being a musician? moving the listener very deeply
What is the most difficult part of your job? being faithful to all the different composers; withstanding the difficult rehearsal schedule
How often and long do you practice? off and on, all day long, and most of the night; never longer than an hour at a time
What is your most memorable moment with the SSO? difficult to choose, but the Carnegie Hall concert (April 1, 2004) would certainly be one of the most memorable
Which composers most inspire you? Bach and Mozart chiefly, but there are many others. And I enjoy certain movie music as well; that is where our best composers have retreated.
What are your favorite recordings? I have many: Klemperer's B-minor Mass of Bach comes to mind. I like Bernstein's "Adagio for Strings" by Barber and Gavin Bryar's "Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet." My favorite recording (other than Classical) is Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally."
What is your favorite SSO recording? Please forgive my immodesty, but I do love my own Mozart "Four Horn Concertos" with Jerry conducting!
Do you perform with other groups or in festivals? I still occasionally concertize elsewhere in America and Europe. For 35 years, I was principal horn with the Aspen Festival Orchestra.
What do you like to do outside of the Orchestra?I enjoy tournament chess and am the proud owner of Bobby Fischer's chess table presented to him by Fidel Castro in Cuba and auctioned in New York after Bobby retired from chess in 1972--purchased by me!
