University of Arizona Assistant Professor of Horn and principal horn with the Tucson Symphony Johanna Lundy presented “Luminous: Selections from France and Belgium,” a mini-recital and masterclass for Shenandoah Conservatory music students on Saturday, Nov. 20, in Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall.
The program celebrated the works of composers with the ability to radiate light through sound, including Elsa Barraine’s “Crepuscules for Horn and Piano,” selected movements from Jean Francaix’s “Divertimento” and the ebullient “Sonata for Horn and Piano, op. 7” by Jane Vignery, the centerpiece of this program. Featuring composers from France and Belgium, the music is influenced by similar styles, yet each piece has its own distinct identity. The composers had ties to each other: Vignery and Barraine studied with Paul Dukas; Francaix and Vignery studied with the legendary Nadia Boulanger. While growing in popularity, some of these works are still unknown to audiences.
Lundy is the principal horn with the Tucson Symphony, a position she has held since 2006. Hailed by Gramophone as “simply breathtaking,” she released her first solo album “Canyon Songs” in 2018. As a soloist and recitalist, Lundy has appeared as a guest artist with the Aspen Music Festival, Grand Canyon Music Festival, Virginia Arts Festival, St. Andrew’s Bach Society and the Downtown Chamber Series in Phoenix, Arizona. She has performed with orchestras across the United States, including the Florida Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Albany Symphony, New Hampshire Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic and the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra. Lundy has received critical acclaim for her “robust sound” and her “extraordinary” performances.
A dedicated teacher, Lundy is on faculty at the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona. Her teaching emphasizes physical and mental wellness, orchestral audition preparation and artist development. Students are encouraged to explore collaborations across disciplines, new methods for concert delivery and community connections. Former students have gone on to varied careers in music and positions with professional orchestras and other ensembles. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory. Principal teachers include Richard Deane, Roland Pandolfi, Richard Sebring, James Sommerville and John Zirbel.
Lundy’s visit to Shenandoah Conservatory was organized by Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn Geoffrey Pilkington, B.M.