Music student wins top international competition

Big congratulations to the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and DMA student Lauren Hunt:

University of Georgia doctor of musical arts student Lauren Hunt took first prize Sept. 1 in the International Horn Competition of America's university division. Hunt, who began her studies this fall in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, competed against 53 other hornists for the title.

The International Horn Competition of America was founded in 1975 to promote higher performance standards for domestic hornists. In time, its mission expanded to include international artists who compete every other year in the event's professional and university divisions. This year's competition, held on campus at Kentucky's University of Louisville, included performers from 21 states and 10 countries.

"Everyone hopes to win at competitions like this, but my main goal was to make it past the first round," Hunt said. "Once I had accomplished that, I simply made it a point to have fun and enjoy playing my instrument. I think that's a big reason why I performed as well as I did."

When it comes to the top music schools in the country, awards like this really tell the story. That Lauren is new to UGA and chose to bring her talents here for her doctoral education speaks volumnes about our faculty. Congratulations to our brass faculty members, and especially Jean Martin-Williams and Richard Deane. 

Image: Horn professor Dr. Jean Martin-Williams with Lauren Hunt.