Hornist Austin Larson has compiled a substantial competitive record both in the United States and abroad as one of only two people to ever win First Prizes in both the University and Professional Divisions of the International Horn Competition of America, the most prestigious competition for horn players in North America. In 2017, Austin became the first American to ever win a prize in either the International Brass Instruments Competition in Gdansk, Poland or the Jeju International Brass Competition Horn Division in Korea, finishing with the Second Prize in both, the latter being the highest prize awarded. Austin has previously won the International Horn Society Premier Soloist Competition, Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, Wisconsin Public Radio Young Artists Competition, and International Music Competition “Citta di Chieri” in Italy. Austin has also appeared as a soloist at the Music for All Symposium, International Horn Symposium, Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival, Wisconsin Public Radio, and with orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Austin Larson is currently Third Horn in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra having previously served as Assistant Principal Horn with the Colorado Symphony and Acting Assistant Principal Horn with the Cincinnati Symphony. Austin also held positions with Symphony in C, the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland, and Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and has also performed with many other ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, and as Guest Principal Horn with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.
A native of Neenah, Wisconsin, Austin holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music and his teachers include Randy Gardner, Jennifer Montone, Julie Landsman, Jeffrey Lang, Duane Dugger, Elizabeth Freimuth, Richard Deane, Douglas Hill, Bruce Atwell, and Donald Krause. A strong believer in music education, Austin currently teaches with the BSO’s OrchKids program for urban youth in Baltimore and has raised funds for music scholarships at the University of Cincinnati in addition to musicians’ relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.