Valerie Whitney, horn
Valerie Whitney is an active freelance artist in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. An alumna of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she performs frequently with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared with several local ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ars Viva Orchestra, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.
In 2010, she was invited to play guest principle horn with The Florida Orchestra, and was a semi-finalist in the 2011 International Horn Competition of America. In 2011, she joined the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin as guest third horn. Ms. Whitney is also a founding member of the Northshore Brass Quintet, whose performances have included venues such as Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Ms. Whitney is also an enthusiastic teacher, and she currently maintains a full private studio of horn and piano students.
Ms. Whitney’s education includes a BM in Horn Performance from Wheaton College under the instruction of Melanie Cottle, and a MM from Northwestern University as a student of Gail Williams and William Barnewitz. She also spent a summer studying at the Aspen Music Festival and School, in Aspen, Colorado.