Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Caliendo.
Hi Kate, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I never set out to become a “hornfluencer.” It was just something that sort of happened along the way. Following a career in classical French Horn performance has always been my passion, but even with that passion, I would find myself burning out sometimes in the orchestral world. In those moments, I started posting short videos on Instagram to help get my fire and confidence back. I found that what I was posting resonated with many other musicians, which motivated me to keep posting. It also helped refuel my drive to continue in my musical career.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest issue I’ve come up against is burnout, which I realized came from not bringing my unique voice to what I do and not listening to my values. It was challenging to learn how to trust my viewpoint, as putting yourself out there can be scary. You’re never sure how people will react or if it will work out in your favor. I found that the more authentic I could be, the better I felt about myself and what I was doing. That made it all worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m known for being a low horn player, specializing in the French horn’s lower range. I use the same physical instrument and play lower notes, like playing on the bottom half of a piano. Most horn parts and solos show off the expressiveness of the instrument’s higher range. I thought it would be fun to bring this expression and versatility to the low range, so I wrote my 18 Virtuosic Concert Etudes for Low Horn. They’re my interpretation of what it might be like if great composers like Mozart, Beethoven, John Williams, etc., had written music specifically for low horn. It was a fun challenge coming up with them, and so rewarding to see them being played and enjoyed by other horn players.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think I’m a big risk taker, but they never feel like risks at the time but rather just something I have to do. It’s a risk to be vulnerable; it’s a risk to share something that means a lot to you with other people because there’s no guarantee that they will like it. I have found that not taking risks and putting yourself out there can lead to stagnation, so there’s always a balance between risking and resting.
Contact Info:
- Website: Katecaliendo.com
- Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/katecaliendohorn
