Norton Native to Be Part of Hornithology Concert

Rachel Daly, a native of Norton, will join numerous others in a hornithology concert 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6 at in Norton. 

Hornithology Summer Horn Ensemble is made up of over 20 middle and high school students from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Students in the summer 2012 ensemble are from Norton, Mansfield, Taunton, Foxboro, Easton, Westwood, Norwood, Franklin, Concord and Providence, Rhode Island. Hornithology Ensemble is also a consortium of classically trained horn players from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The members include Daly, Jeremy Ronkin, Dave Rufino, Megan Riccio, and Susan Winterbottom-Shadday.

Daly received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in horn performance and Masters of Arts degree from Columbia University, Teachers College in music education. She studied horn under David Jolley, William Brown, Laura Klock and George Lessard. Daly also studied conducting with Dino Anagnost.

Specializing in chamber music, Daly is a founding member of Hornithology Ensemble and the Lakeside Brass Quintet performing recitals, private and corporate functions.  Hornithology Ensemble received many grants over the last two years from the Massachusetts Cultural council for school, summer and community programs. An active freelancer in the New England area and has performed with many area orchestras and chamber groups including the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, Plymouth Philharmonic, New Bedford Symphony, Symphony by the Sea, Clafin Hill Symphony and Charles River Sinfonietta.

With a four-octave range, and over 100 years of combined playing experience, The Hornithology Ensemble plays an amazingly diverse repertoire of horn music, from Bach to the jazzier arrangements of Lowell Shaw. Individually, the members can be heard performing with top orchestras, in musical theatre orchestras and, occasionally a big band, all over New England. 

 One of the unique qualities of the Hornithology Ensemble is that it is as deeply committed to music education as it is to the highest level of artistic musical performance. In addition to playing horn, members of Hornithology teach and can be found on college and university faculties around the region including Brown University, Salve Regina College and Bridgewater State University.

Daly teaches horn and coaches chamber music to area middle and high school students. Her students regularly participate in the Southeast and Central District Music Festivals, Massachusetts All State Festival, All Eastern Music Festival, Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Worcester Youth Symphony, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and New England Conservatory Preparatory Groups. Along with a home studio, Daly teaches at lessons programs at Hopkinton High School and King Philip High School. She is also a visting lecturer at Bridgewater State University teaching both horn and Introduction to Western Classical Music. Daly is an artist affiliate and educational specialist for United Musical Instruments.

The group has received numerous grants for school programs including funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. This Program is supported in part by a grant from the Norton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

For more information, visit the Hornithology Ensemble Facebook page.