Andrew Bain · horn

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Adelaide (Australia), Andrew Bain has held positions and soloed around the world, including Australasia, Europe, and the United States, where he settled as the Principal Horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2011. Andrew keeps a tight itinerary full of LA Phil concerts, solo performances, and teaching through both the Colburn School of Music and the Invested Musician program, which he co-founded with his wife, Rupal.

Andrew began making music at age 8 when he took up the piano. When he enrolled in Brighton High School’s special music program, he fell in love with the sound of the horn – thus began a lifelong passion that blossomed into a dream career. Andrew earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide studying with Patrick Brislan. He furthered his studies with first with Geoff Collinson in Sydney, then with Hector McDonald in Vienna. In 2003, he also completed a Graduate Diploma in Chamber Music under Will Sanders in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Andrew won his appointment as Principal Horn with the LA Phil in 2011, but before that held positions as Principal Horn of the Melbourne Symphony, Queensland Symphony, Münchner Symphoniker, and Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra. He also served as Associate Principal Horn of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and from 2003 until 2012 he served as Principal Horn of the Colorado Music Festival. Additionally, Andrew has been fortunate to serve as guest principal with the Berliner Philharmonie, Chicago Symphony, Saito Kinen Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Taiwan Connection, and Malaysian Philharmonic. Andrew also appeared as guest principal for the Australian World Orchestra’s concerts with Simon Rattle in Sydney and Melbourne, plus the AWO’s groundbreaking tour throughout India with Zubin Mehta.

Andrew’s solo career has brought him center-stage with the LA Phil, Berliner Symphoniker, Berliner Philharmonie, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and Alabama Symphony. He has also been a featured soloist at the Colorado Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and Music in the Round Festival. In 2015, he premiered Brad Warnaar’s Horn Concerto with the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra; in 2021, he premiered Paul Dean’s Horn Concerto with the Adelaide Symphony and Aspen Music Festival. As a chamber musician, Andrew loves to explore the possibilities of the horn in various ensembles. He is a regular performer on the LA Phil’s Chamber Music series and a founding member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Wind Quintet, which performed at the Sydney Opera House in 2019 as part of their Australian tour. Andrew also gave the first performance of Geoffrey Gordon’s "Winterleben" for Mezzo Soprano, Horn, and Piano at the 47th International Horn Symposium in 2015.

Andrew’s solos and section playing are also heard on a variety of film soundtracks. Among his resume of film work, he considers his performance for John Williams’s scores for "Star Wars" Episodes XII, XIII, and IX as one of his greatest career and lifetime highlights. Other movies that feature Andrew’s playing include "The Lion King", "Incredibles 2", "The Pos", "The Fate of the Furious", "Independence Day: Resurgence", "Hidden Figures", and "Godzilla".

Andrew is very passionate about education and fostering a sense of community among horn players around the world. He is very lucky to work with some of the finest young horn players not only at the Colburn School but also at the Aspen Music Festival, Australian National Academy of Music, and a variety of masterclasses around the world. He also loves working with students of all ages and experience levels with Invested Musician, an organization dedicated to helping musicians take their careers to the next level through a mix of video lessons, private lessons, and free community workshops focusing on both music and business. Andrew has also held teaching positions at the University of Melbourne, Tasmania Conservatorium of Music, and Sydney Conservatorium. As co-host of the 47th International Horn Symposium in 2015 here in Los Angeles, Andrew welcomed over one thousand horn players and musicians to the Colburn School for a week-long celebration of everything horn. He has continued to promote a global sense of community through his series of virtual warm-ups since he began livestreaming them in 2020.

In addition to music, Andrew loves traveling, cooking, and exploring Los Angeles with his beautiful wife, Rupal. If he’s not working, he’s likely to be found on the golf course trying to improve his handicap or spending time with Rupal and their two boys, Jasper and Sebastian.