IHS Honorary Members

The intent of Honorary Membership in the International Horn Society is to honor living hornists who have made a major contribution at the international level to the art of horn playing. This contribution must be one that will extend beyond the individual's lifetime and should exist in several areas, such as performance, teaching, research, or service to the IHS.

A nominating committee, consisting of past presidents and/or Advisory Council members, shall present to the Advisory Council a minimum of two candidates for this honor every year. Nominations may come from any IHS member. Supporting materials demonstrating why the candidate deserves this honor must be sent to the chair of the nominating committee. Final selection will be made by a two-thirds majority vote of the Advisory Council.

Honorary Members receive Life Membership in the IHS, a congratulatory letter, and a certificate.

The IHS Honorary Membership Nominating Committee invites any current IHS member in good standing to nominate deserving living hornists for the IHS's highest honor. Nominations must include a biography and description of why the nominee is deserving of this honor, based on the qualifications for Honorary Membership. Send nominations to IHS President This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For thumbnail biographies of other selected, significant horn players who passed before the creation of the IHS see also Celebrated Horn Players of the Past.

Honorary Members

Service Medal of Honor Recipients

This honor, instituted in 2011, is for individuals who have made a major contribution in service to the International Horn Society. Any IHS member can submit a nomination; nominations are considered at the next Advisory Council meetings.

IHS Service Medal of Honor Recipients

Administrative Staff

Julia Burtscher, Executive Director

Julia Burtscher has been playing the horn for over 30 years and lives in Toledo, Ohio. She earned a BA in Music from the University of Cincinnati and later earned her MBA from the same institution. Julia has spent most of her career in the railroad software industry, and is delighted to be the new executive director of the IHS!

Julia Burtscher
PO Box 5486
Toledo, OH 43613
USA

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 419-279-5768

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Elaine Braun, Membership Coordinator

Elaine received her BFA in Music Ed. from SUNY at Buffalo and her MM in Music Ed. from the University of Western Ontario. She taught Elementary Vocal, then Elementary and Middle School Instrumental music in the Buffalo area. While at Western she taught Horn, ran the Horn Ensemble and played Harp in the New Music Ensemble. She also taught at the Western Conservatory and was accompanist for the University Chorus. She has continued to play and sing in ensembles throughout her career as an Orchestra Administrator. In addition to being the General Manager of the Maryland Symphony and the Erie Philharmonic, she was Music Director/Conductor of the Fort Erie (Ontario) Legion Band and the Erie Philharmonic Chorus . She joined the Horn Society in 1972 and has served as Secretary-Treasurer, Coordinator for Canada and Coordinator for the US Representatives before becoming the IHS Membership Coordinator in 2017. She now lives in Nashville where she continues to play, sing and teach.

Elaine Braun
305 Raywood Ct.
Nashville, TN 37211-6000

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 615-837-5836

Area Representative Job Description (USA)

(revised and approved by IHS Advisory Council, September, 2009)

The positions of Regional Coordinator and Area Representative were created by the IHS to facilitate recruitment of new members and communication among current and potential members in defined areas. Generally, Regional Coordinators have larger service areas and slightly different roles in recruiting and supporting IHS members. Area Representatives serve smaller areas within regions, and are supported by and report to Regional Coordinators.

Area Representatives provide information and resources about the IHS, its activities, and other horn-related events to IHS members and other interested people in their regions. They should be proactive in promoting musical education as it relates to the horn (according to the IHS By-laws). They should aid the IHS by generating enthusiasm and camaraderie among horn players in their regions, with the aim of recruiting new members and retaining existing members.  Area Representatives must maintain their IHS membership and be proactive in informing Regional Coordinators when they change mailing/email addresses.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate active communication among IHS members and other interested parties in their area. This may be accomplished in many ways, including publishing (or recruiting volunteers to publish) area newsletters. It is expected that a minimum of two newsletters or general communication be published per year, and at least one, to be distributed by email or regular mail. Copies of newsletters or other communications should always be copied to the appropriate Regional Coordinator.
• Submit an annual report to the Regional Coordinator with a summary of activities and expenses, as outlined in this job description, over the past calendar year. Recommendations to the Advisory Council for any relevant actions for improvement may also be included. Deadlines regarding these reports will be communicated to Area Representatives by the Regional Coordinator and are usually fixed by the need to include Area activity reports in the Coordinator’s Report to the Advisory Council which meets at the annual International Horn Symposium each summer.

Suggested activities for Area Representatives to encourage member participation:

• Maintain (or recruit a volunteer to maintain) a website of current events in the area and other useful information, linking this to and from the IHS website and other relevant sites such as Facebook.
• Host, help organize, or support local and regional workshops, horn choirs, holiday performances, and other horn-related events.
• Involve volunteers and students.
• Encourage members and others to attend IHS events.
• Encourage students to participate in the IHS contests and scholarship programs.
• Share news from the area with the Coordinator and The Horn Call News Editor.
• Request updated membership lists from the Executive Secretary and follow up with those who have let their membership lapse. Provide a summary of feedback received from lapsed members in the Area Representative’s annual report to the coordinator (while respecting the anonymity of the lapsed member).

Communications from Regional Coordinators:

Once confirmed in the role, Area Representatives should receive from the Coordinator:

• A copy of the IHS Executive Secretary's explanation of how to submit Expense Reports and the expenses that can be reimbursed.
• A list of the Area Representatives in the country (US and Canada) or region (Europe and Asia).
• Information regarding relevant IHS concerns, actions, and events.
• Directions on how to access member information from the IHS website.

Review of Area Representatives:

Regional Coordinators review the Area Representatives' annual reports. If Area Representatives do not meet their responsibilities, the Coordinator can offer suggestions. If problems continue, Area Representatives can be put on notice that they may be asked to step down. If, after being put on notice, the level of effort and activity does not improve, the Coordinator may ask Area Representatives to resign.

Apply to become an Area Representative