✨ARTIST SPOTLIGHT✨ James Smelser joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as second horn in the spring of 2000, after having played as a regular extra since 1986. In addition, he has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Before joining the CSO, he played over fifteen years of Broadway shows, ballet, and radio and TV commercials. In addition, he has served as principal horn with the Philharmonia Hungarica and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany, as well as utility horn with the San Francisco Symphony. He also has performed with the Göttingen Symphonie Orchester, Dresden Staatskapelle, Israel Philharmonic, Shanghai Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Jim appeared as a soloist with the CSO in Schumann’s Konzertstück For Four Horns at the Ravinia Festival, and again with his CSO Horn colleagues with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Also, as soloist, he has appeared with the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. He has served as the brass instructor for Den Nye Opera Academy in Bergen, Norway. He has held master classes in Chicago, at the Moscow State Conservatory, and in Seoul and Beijing. Jim was a judge and soloist for the Jeju International Brass Competition, in Jeju, Korea, and he currently is on the faculty of DePaul University School of Music in Chicago. Apart from the Horn, Jim can be found in his garage working on one of his classic Detroit automobiles, picking spicy peppers in his garden, at a White Sox game, or on the beach in Cancun! ​ Be sure to hear James Smelser on August 21st, more concert details and the full concert lineup is available on our website. Book tickets now! 🎟🎟 We hope you'll join us! https://www.chamberfestbrowncounty.com #artsinbrowncounty #browncounty #arts #classicalmusic #nashvilleindiana #chambermusic #chamberfestbrowncounty #ilovebrowncounty #chambermusicfestival #musicfestival #browncountyindiana #chamberfestbrowncounty2025 #music #musicians #classicalmusic #chambermusic #chicagosymphony #chicagosymphonyorchestra (fb)

Many thanks to Hills 'O Brown Vacation Rentals for their support of ChamberFest Brown County 2025! Thank you for believing in our mission to bring high-quality music to the Brown County community and sponsoring ChamberFest Brown County. 🎶 #artsinbrowncounty #browncounty #arts #classicalmusic #nashvilleindiana #chambermusic #chamberfestbrowncounty #ilovebrowncounty #chambermusicfestival #musicfestival #browncountyindiana #chamberfestbrowncounty2025 #music #musicians #classicalmusic #chambermusic (fb)