Spotlight | Horn

Benjamin Bacni

Benjamin Bacni, a native of Ohio, received degrees in horn performance from Bowling Green State University (BM, 2014) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (MM, 2016), studying with Dr. Andrew Pelletier and Martin Hackleman, respectively.  

Upon moving to Kansas City, Mr. Bacni became Principal Horn of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, where he played until 2017. Since 2019, he has served as 4th Horn of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. As an active freelancer, Mr. Bacni has performed across the Midwest with Music Theater of Wichita, Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Omaha Symphony Orchestra, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Bacni began performing with the Kansas City Symphony as a substitute musician in 2015, and is excited to join the section for the 2023/2024 season on a one-year contract as Utility Horn.

In August 2015, Mr. Bacni competed in the International Horn Competition of America, where he won 1st prize in the University Division and the Gretchen Snedeker Prize for his interpretation of Tim Martin’s Lament for Unaccompanied Horn.

Mr. Bacni has been fortunate to participate in the 2012 American Wind Symphony Orchestra Tour, 2014 Ohio Light Opera Festival, 2015 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Tour (Topeka, KS), 2016 Marrowstone Music Festival, 2019/2021/2022 Sunflower Music Festival, 2022 Broadway National Tour of Wicked(Kansas City, MO), and the 2023 Firefly Music Festival (Columbia, Missouri).

Aside from his love of music and horn, Mr. Bacni spends his free time as an at-home baker with a focus on croissants and macarons.