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Principal Horn

Alberto Suarez (On Leave)

Alberto Suarez was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, and raised in South Florida. He has served as Principal Horn of the Kansas City Symphony since 2006, where he holds the Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair. He spends his summers performing and teaching at the Round Top Festival Institute. Suarez was a member of the New World Symphony from 2002-2006 and has toured internationally with the Verbier Festival Orchestra (2003), New World Symphony (2005), New York Symphonic Ensemble (2009-2014) and the Pittsburgh Symphony (2013). In addition to performing with the Kansas City Symphony, Suarez performs locally with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony (2009, 2015) and the Overland Park Symphony (2008). Diversity and Inclusion are important to Suarez. He has written and spoken on the subject and is proud to serve as a member of the Artist Council for the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), a field-wide initiative with the long-term goal of increasing diversity in American orchestras. For more information follow the link: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/national-alliance-for-audition-support/. As an educator, Suarez serves as an artist in residence at the University of Central Missouri and has taught master classes at the University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri Western State, Manhattan School of Music and the New World Symphony. Suarez was a founding member of the Huntington Brass Quintet (HBQ), which received critical acclaim for their 2002 recording, Daniel Pinkham: Music for Brass. HBQ has performed recitals across the country including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. The HBQ was selected to participate in Chamber Music America’s Rural Residency, which enables ensembles to bring live music to rural communities nationwide.


Alberto Suarez

Alberto Suarez was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, and raised in South Florida. He has served as Principal Horn of the Kansas City Symphony since 2006, where he holds the Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair. He spends his summers performing and teaching at the Round Top Festival Institute. Suarez was a member of the New World Symphony from 2002-2006 and has toured internationally with the Verbier Festival Orchestra (2003), New World Symphony (2005), New York Symphonic Ensemble (2009-2014) and the Pittsburgh Symphony (2013). In addition to performing with the Kansas City Symphony, Suarez performs locally with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony (2009, 2015) and the Overland Park Symphony (2008). Diversity and Inclusion are important to Suarez. He has written and spoken on the subject and is proud to serve as a member of the Artist Council for the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), a field-wide initiative with the long-term goal of increasing diversity in American orchestras. For more information follow the link: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/national-alliance-for-audition-support/. As an educator, Suarez serves as an artist in residence at the University of Central Missouri and has taught master classes at the University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri Western State, Manhattan School of Music and the New World Symphony. Suarez was a founding member of the Huntington Brass Quintet (HBQ), which received critical acclaim for their 2002 recording, Daniel Pinkham: Music for Brass. HBQ has performed recitals across the country including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. The HBQ was selected to participate in Chamber Music America’s Rural Residency, which enables ensembles to bring live music to rural communities nationwide.

Hialeah, Florida

Being on stage with fantastic colleagues and exploring our musical ideas each night in a unique and fresh way.

This is always a difficult question to answer. To me the answer depends on the food you are craving. For Burnt Ends I would say Q39 or Joe’s, but for ribs I really like SLAPS and the best beans, Jack Stack. The awesome thing about Kansas City is that you can find a new great BBQ joint just around the corner.

Every day I play a different Bach Cello Suite on my horn. Exploring ornaments and grace notes that would work on the horn make each time through interesting and unique.

I really enjoy the atmosphere, the food and the drinks at The Belfry. The late night menu is awesome! If you like dessert, try the Chocolate Ganache with Stout Caramel. Also if you like to try local interesting brews it’s the place for you.

I studied at a performing arts high school in Miami called New World School of the Arts. It is a public high school that focuses on the visual and performing arts. One day in my physics class, I heard some beautiful music coming from the front of the class. I asked my teacher, Mr. Sturgulewski or “Sturge” as we all called him, about the music and he told me it was Mahler’s Second Symphony. Later that day I went to the library and listened to Mahler’s Second Symphony in its entirety. I was so taken by the spectrum of colors and emotions and was very excited about playing in an orchestra from that day forward.

Though it is quite difficult to choose one composer, I feel most connected to Gustav Mahler. Mahler composed in a style that demanded a lot of different colors and effects from the orchestra to portray all the emotions that he was feeling.

I really enjoy being in España. If I had to pick one city it would be Barcelona. The food, location, and weather are ideal for a relaxing vacation.

I would have to say that it would be an electrical engineer. When I was in high school, I was interested in mathematics and physics and had helped my father on freelance home electrical work. When I got to college, I was a double major in electrical engineering and music performance. After three years of doing both, I decided to pursue music exclusively.