Horn Section Gets Two New Faces

Music Director José-Luis Novo and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra are pleased to announce two new additions to the French Horn section after holding auditions on May 20. Josh Cote has earned the position of Principal French Horn, and Shane Iler will become the new Associate Principal French Horn player. They will start their tenure with the Symphony this fall for the 2019-2020 Masterworks Series, beginning September 27 & 28 with guest pianist Stewart Goodyear.

Josh Cote

Josh Cote, a native of Chicago, IL, has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. He has spent his summers at the Tanglewood Music Center, Pacific Music Festival, Festival Mozaic, Spoleto USA Festival, Music Academy of the West, and the National Repertory Orchestra. Cote began his music studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas with Greg Hustis, spent a winter in Oslo learning from Froydis de Wekre, and moved to Los Angeles to study at the Colburn Conservatory of Music with Andrew Bain, Principal Horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He then spent two years at the prestigious New World Symphony as a horn fellow under Michael Tilson Thomas, where he was a featured soloist. After winning Fourth Horn of the Sarasota Orchestra and Principal Horn of the Reading Symphony Orchestra, he moved to Philadelphia. There, he maintains a large private studio and serves as resident horn teaching artist for Play On, Philly, which provides high-quality music education for underserved children.

Shane Iler

Shane Iler received his Master’s degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied with Mike Hatfield and Rick Seraphinoff. After graduating, he furthered his studies with Denise Tryon of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Iler regularly performs with several regional orchestras, including the Richmond Symphony, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, and Allentown Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Principal horn of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. In addition to orchestra playing, Iler is an avid chamber musician, performing with the Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra and Georgetown Woodwind Quintet. He currently resides in Alexandria and teaches many talented students of district and state bands.