JP Music

JP Horn Player's Ride to the BSO

How this Jamaica Plain classical player recently won a spot with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

  When Michael Winter won the spot as third horn with the Boston Symphony Orchestra earlier this year, the 28-year-old Jamaica Plain resident marked the day as a dream come true. A California native, and part of a family of musicians, he came to Boston to study at New England Conservatory, and afterward landed jobs with the Syracuse Symphony and the Buffalo Philharmonic orchestras. But the pianist-turned-horn player knew all along that he wanted to play with the BSO. We recently spoke over coffee at Caffé Aromi. Jamaica Plain Patch: Before we discuss the BSO, how did you happen to switch from piano to French horn? Michael Winter: I started playing piano when I was 8 because my mom said it would be the best way to learn the basics of notes …

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