Kodály’s Dances of Galánta launches the program with rhythmic bite and radiant color, followed by Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1. Elgar’s Enigma Variations concludes with sharply etched musical portraits and a commanding orchestral finish.
Program
Alastair Willis, conductor
Kurt Civilette, horn
ZOLTÁN KODÁLY
Dances of Galánta
RICHARD STRAUSS
Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 11
EDWARD ELGAR
Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36, “Enigma”
Calendar for Strauss + Elgar
Coming soon!
Kurt Civilette has been Principal Horn with South Bend Symphony Orchestra since 2012. He last appeared as a featured soloist in May, 2018, performing the Schumann Konzertstuck for 4 horns and orchestra with the rest of the South Bend Symphony section. He recently was featured soloist with Midland Symphony in March, 2026, finally realizing a long-time dream of performing the Reinhold Gliere horn concerto.
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Kurt earned a bachelor of music in horn performance at Northwestern University. Currently he is a freelance performer based in Lansing, MI, holding 5 permanent positions in the area including principal horn with SBSO and Midland(MI) Symphony and 3rd horn in Flint Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Traverse City Philharmonic. He is frequently asked to play guest principal. In past freelance work he has played extra with Detroit, St Louis, Utah, Toledo Symphonies, as well as Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Michigan Opera Theater.
For 15 years from 1995-2010, Kurt was full-time 3rd horn/associate principal with New Mexico Symphony in Albuquerque, and was also 3rd horn of the Santa Fe Symphony.
During the summers, Kurt plays principal horn with the Southern Illinois Music festival in Carbondale and the Baroque on Beaver Festival on Beaver Island(MI).
Outside of music, Kurt is an avid runner and just completed the 50 state marathon challenge, running his 50th state in the 50th state, in Maui, January 2026.
The Jack M. Champaigne Masterworks Series is proudly sponsored by
