“One of the things you have to remember as a horn player is you have to breath”, said Herb Winslow. Herb is a member of the minnesota Orchestra and had been since 2005. He has played with many different orchestras in his career, all over the united states.

“Is started on this instrument in 7th grade but i didn’t start with this instrument, I chose the flute”

Said Winslow. His first choice had been the flute. He was not very good at the flute, him and another girl were always switching back and forth between last chair. One day after the class their director came up to him and asked them if they would like to switch instruments because they already have a lot of flute players. Herb said he would switch to the horn. He went with the cold metal instrument because his best friend also played the horn and he wanted to sit next to him in class. “Within three months I was a better horn player than a flute player” said Winslow.

As college came around the corner he was looking at many different schools. Most were very selective that he could not get into. But Indiana university, which has one of the largest orchestras with a renowned horn teacher accepted him. “Upon my arrival I found out that the teacher only taught the upperclassmen”said Winslow. The other horn teacher at the school was a very nice lady, who respected his dreams of going to Carter to finish his studies in music.

“I thought Yeah this is definitely what i want to be doing” said Winslow. He was accepted in to Carter and had many opportunities to play in different orchestras in the area. One of those orchestras was the Philadelphia orchestra; which is one of the top orchestras in the world. He had the chance to go and be an extra for that orchestra. When someone was absent or they needed more people for a bigger piece he would sub in and play in the orchestra. “When I was 20 years old I got to sit next to my teacher in the philadelphia orchestra” said Winslow.

“I stayed in Philadelphia doing freelance, trying to get my name out there.” said winslow. Herb stayed in the area for four years doing small gigs he was invited to. He was still a backup for the Philadelphia orchestra, which kept him busy and on his toes. But then he found a job as a teacher at a university in New Mexico. He got the job and moved down to the dry hot state of New mexico and taught the brass section at the university. While in New Mexico he played in various orchestras in the state and had many different gigs set up in towns nearby.

“I think I could do pretty well at this one”, thought herb when he heard about an opening in the St. Paul  chamber orchestra. Auditioning for this orchestra would be the 13th professional audition he has done, he had success with this orchestra and got into it. He was principal horn for the chamber group for twenty five years. He was invited to also sub for the Minnesota Orchestra once in awhile and to play some pieces for them in their seasons.

Bigger and better things

“It was kind of rejuvenating to play pieces that I haven’t played in years” said Winslow.

Herb was still a member of the chamber orchestra and played with the Minnesota Orchestra as a sub. In 1995 Minnesota Orchestra had asked him to play with them for a whole entire season, he was on leave from the chamber orchestra. At the end of the season they had asked him to become a full time member of the orchestra in 1995.

“You don’t settle into any one groove” said Winslow. The Minnesota Orchestra is a very busy job to have. There can be up to three concerts a week with a couple days of rehearsal between concerts. The schedule is very flexible, every week has a different schedule, some days they are playing at Orchestra Hall, they are playing for work parties, they are playing with pop stars, some nights they are playing soundtracks to movies that they show in the hall. “We’re doing something that the original performers never got to do. Winslow passionately describes the feeling of playing every piece right after another and how it is a totally different feel than what the original performers get because they play in pieces and not all together.

“I’ve gotten to travel the world with this group to places I never thought I would go” said Winslow.

They have traveled all over the world to play, including places like cuba, most of europe, 40 states in the U.S. and some of the asian countries. Cuba was one of his favorite places to go, “we got to experience the people and that was one of my most favorite parts.

Family man

“Family is one of the biggest things that has helped me with my career.” said Winslow. The job is very stressful and it is nice to come home to a very large family because it keeps my mind off of work. He has 6 children who keep him very busy. Four of them are biological and two that are adopted. He has eight grandchildren now that also keep him very busy and his mind off of work. “Just having that to come home to and their lives and support and their activities kept me from sitting at home and keeping my mind of work” said Winslow.

Giving back

“I give back by teaching, I teach one day at St. Olaf a week” said Winslow. He teaches a few young and excited horn players and enjoys doing it. He is there once a week and loves to see how excited they are to learn and he loves that he is making a difference in their life by doing this. “ I don’t try to produce professional players I try to get them to maximize their potential” said Winslow.

“As a professional you do what you need to do” said Winslow. He started out struggling to find his spot in an orchestra, went through 12 professional auditions and finally on the 13th he was accepted into the Minnesota Orchestra. Herb has been through many orchestras and many jobs and has wound up being a great horn player and a great teacher.