The National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. has announced three additions to its musician roster: ADRIANA HORNE, principal harp; ALEXANDER JACOBSEN, section contrabass; and CHARLES NILLES, section contrabass. This brings to eleven the number of NSO musicians who have been engaged by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, a list that includes five principals and two assistant principals.
Adriana Horne, principal harp, who makes her NSO debut December 17 in Handel’s Messiah, spent three years as principal harp in the New World Symphony (Miami Beach, Fla.). She has served as substitute harp in the Florida Grand Opera Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony, and performed in a North American tour of Star Wars in Concert. Horne holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree from Texas Tech University, and a doctoral degree from Indiana University.
Alexander Jacobsen, section contrabass, has performed in the Verbier Festival Orchestra, in Symphony in C (Camden, N.J.), and as a substitute in the Santa Fe Symphony, Figueroa Music and Arts Project (Albuquerque, N. Mex.), Albuquerque Festival Ballet, and New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Jacobsen is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music.
Charles Nilles, section contrabass, served two one-year terms in the NSO (2011-12 and 2012-13) before winning the audition for a permanent post. His experience includes substitute positions in the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh and Houston symphonies. Nilles holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rice University in Houston.
Posted November 15, 2013
