Spotlight | Principal Horn, Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair

Roy Femenella

Roy Femenella is joining the Kansas City Symphony as principal horn in 2026. Born and raised in New York City, Roy has built a dynamic career as one of the most in-demand horn players of his generation. Prior to moving to Kansas City he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, where he performed for five seasons. Recently he has served as guest principal horn of the San Francisco Symphony and has appeared regularly with ensembles such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Swedish Radio Symphony. Additionally, he has appeared as guest principal horn of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico City and Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa in Portugal. Recent chamber music appearances include a tour performing the Brahms Horn Trio throughout China, as well as appearances in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall with colleagues from the Metropolitan Opera. Roy also has appeared on several major motion picture soundtracks. 

During the 2017 through 2020 seasons, Roy held a fellowship at the New World Symphony in Miami, during which he gave several performances of Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 2 as a winner of the New World Symphony’s Concerto Competition. He holds a degree from the Juilliard School and pursued additional studies at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he held a fellowship for three summers. 

A passionate teacher, Roy was recently appointed to the Carolyn Wahl Faculty Chair at the Kinhaven Music School in Weston, Vermont, where he enjoys spending the summer mentoring the next generation of talented horn players.