Legendary Horn Player Passes Away at 68

The horn world has unfortunately lost a strong advocate for the instrument. Kendall Betts, famed horn player of the Philadelphia Orchestra and former Principal Horn of the Minnesota Orchestra passed away recently at the age of 68.

Kendall Betts was born and raised in Philadelphia and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music. After graduation, he earned a position with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and then became of one of the youngest members of the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Eugene Ormandy. Betts would then go on to perform with many of the leading orchestras in the world including the New York Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1979, he would become Principal Horn of the Minnesota Orchestra – a position he would hold until 2004.

In 1995, Betts started the Kendal Betts Horn Camp (KBHC) in New Hampshire. This camp has become one of the premiere camps for the french horn, as it has brought in many illustrious performers, teachers, students, and artists for the instrument.

Kendall Betts will be sorely missed but his legacy will live on through his students and those inspired by him.