Curtis Vander Hyden, Horn

Curtis Vander Hyden first took up the horn at the age of thirteen and instantly fell in love with the experience of ensemble music-making. He pursued this insatiable infatuation first to McGill University, and then to the University of Toronto, achieving degrees in performance after studying with Denys Derome and Christopher Gongos respectively. Basing himself in Toronto, Curtis soon became an active orchestral musician in the Toronto area and currently holds the position of 4th horn with Niagara Symphony Orchestra. He is also a sought-after freelance musician, performing regularly with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Gary Morgan's All-Star Latin Jazz Orchestra, Panamericana. Most recently, he joined the Blythwood Winds and has greatly enjoyed exploring the world of modern Canadian Wind Quintets. When he is not performing, Curtis can often be found in the office of the University of toronto, working as the Manager of Annual Leadership and Giving. In his free time, Curtis enjoys arranging popular film scores for Wind Quintet and gaming online with his brothers.