Beautiful "Hornsause"

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After 39 years of teaching at the HfMT, Prof. Ab Koster was bid farewell on May 20. Over 70 of the 112 horn students he taught took part in the ceremony - coming from all over Europe, Asia and Australia

The farewell reception was characterized by joy, respect, interpersonal appreciation and had an extraordinary atmosphere. Even the external circumstances played their part in this event. Due to the fantastic weather, the event was spontaneously moved outside from the Mendelssohn Hall.

In the speeches from the ranks of the faculty and the numerous alumni who attended, it was repeatedly acknowledged that Prof. Ab Koster is not only a musical role model, but also a human one. The fact that the two must go hand in hand for excellent teaching is also demonstrated by the Dutchman's "success rate": an impressive 94% of his students have been offered an orchestral position and are now working as musicians.

The concert was musically framed by a large horn ensemble with a total of 40 horns, as well as a horn quartet with solo horn, played by Ab Koster. The opening piece was former student Thomas Campbell's composition "A Winter Fanfare" for eight horns, conducted by the composer himself. Of course, the "Abendsegen" from the opera Hansel and Gretel was not to be missed - the centerpiece of every horn player, which musically underlined the solemnity and special nature of the event.
At the end of the reception, a joint gift from all students from 1980-2019 was presented and an arrangement by the Muppet Show team led into the culinary part in the Fanny Hensel Saal.

About the vita
Ab Koster was born in The Hague, the son of a Dutch horn player. He completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in his home town with the "Prix d'Exellence". He then continued his training in Germany at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen with Hermann Baumann. Ab Koster demonstrates his excellent solo skills not only on the modern valve horn, but also on the historical natural horn. Years of collaboration with Jean-Pierre Rampal, Gustav Leonhardt and Frans Brüggen (18th century orchestra) as well as many solo appearances, recordings, radio and television recordings in numerous countries have earned him an outstanding international reputation.