Musician/Educator/Activist
Endorsed by Selmer Saxophones (Paris, France)
https://www.selmer.fr/en/artist/thomas-hornig
« Over the years, I have considered myself extremely lucky to have been in the right place and at the right time in Beirut as the ‘American Saxophonist’. Still, it was only following a recent conversation with my daughter that I finally realized the probability that I will have collaborated and performed with more musicians from the region than any other Western musician in recent history.» Thomas Hornig
« Following Jazz studies at the University of Minnesota, service as a musician in the US Army, Berlin, and four years of study with professor Alain Bouhey at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, I became the first American to move to Lebanon and ended up breaking the US embargo.
My Lebanese fiancée was determined, like many Lebanese youth, to be a part of Lebanon’s re-birth after the long civil war. Hired by Dr. Walid Gholmieh to teach at the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music, I eventually became the principal saxophonist for the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, performing with a long list of guest conductors.
My appearances have been serious and demanding. Needless to say, I took great pride in performing in works such as Bizet’s L’Arlésienne and Rachmaninoffs Symphonic Dances. To date, the LPO has called on me over thirty times and I always considered it to be an extremely rare privilege to sit in the heart of an orchestra. At one point, I was even invited to perform The Old Castle with the visiting Kirov Orchestra directed by Valery Gergiev.
Other indelible moments include performances with distinguished artists like Julia Boutros, Omayama Khalil, Charbel Rouhana, Oussama Rahbani, Hiba Tawaji, Ghassan Rahbani, Ziad Rahbani, Nareg Abajian, Yarub Smarait, Tarek Yamani, Arthur Satyan and Anthony Touma sometimes in front of massive audiences at the Roman ruins of Carthage, Baalbek, Busra and Tyre, Beaufort Castle Latakia, Syria, at the Byblos, Beit Eddine, and Cedar Festivals, and throughout the Middle East North Africa region and Europe.
Some ideas that came to fruition…
Introduced to the head of Solidere in 1997, I was asked to produce the first ever jazz festival in the newly rebuilt Beirut City Center in 1997. Following the direct intervention of the French Ambassador, Patrice Paoli, a charity performance at the French Ambassador’s residence in Beirut, which earned $200,000 for palliative care, was offered by the National Conservatory Big Band.
Still not yet legally visible under Lebanon’s archaic nationality and sponsorship laws, I have, proudly, been at the forefront of individual, unpaid social activism in Beirut for two decades including among many other activities the production of a song about Lebanese Nationality featuring Charbel Rouhana with lyrics by Rabih Mroué. Extensive campaigning culminating in an audience with Lebanon’s Minister of State in 2010 resulted in a cabinet vote to give permanent residency to husbands and children of 77,000 Lebanese women and I am currently campaigning for the right to quality health care for migrant workers in Lebanon.
But perhaps one of my proudest achievements over the years was a production, two and a half years in the making, which featured Charbel Rouhana (Oud), Grammy-winning arrangers and the LHNCM Big Band. Featured on Al Jazeera, this performance was the first time in history that the Oud (oriental lute) was featured with a big band for a full concert. My work with the Lebanese Conservatory faculty big band lasted 10 years during which I was often responsible for creating opportunities to perform at gala events and music festivals.
Currently, I am hoping to be able to publish three albums which are recorded but not mixed/mastered; one recorded in NYC featuring Amadis Dunkel, Hyuna Park, the late Jeff Andrews and Ben Perowski, and two albums recorded live inside the office of the French Ambassador’s residence in Beirut.»
A few endorsements
“Truly dedicated to sharing his talent with students and non-professional musicians alike so that they can, in turn, experience the Joy of Music.” Dr. Walid Moussallem, Director of the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music
“Tom is among the few people that I know who really wants to make a difference… we all were aware that migrant workers in Lebanon were denied their rights but Tom really opened my eyes to their suffering, hardships and struggles … I have never met a more passionate and determined person in my life when it comes to fighting for what is right … it says a lot about a person”
Zeina Khodr, Senior International Correspondent for Al Jazeera English
“Having Tom in a Live situation always instilled in me confidence, because I knew that this guy went thoroughly through the scores, did his homework, and was ready to lead the horn section and to improvise beautifully when needed. He is the hardest working man in show-bisiness I know (other than James Brown).”
Ghazi Abdel Baki
Musician / producer
Founder of the Forward Music Label
“Une attitude positive, un travaile exhaustive, un grand sens de l’écoute, un esprit indépendent et un character fort résument sa personalité de musician professionel particuliérement attachant.”
Alain Bouhey, Professor of Saxophone, Ecole Normale de Musique
“For me, Tom was not only my saxophone teacher, he was a mentor, a role model and more importantly, a friend. Through the years, Tom has helped me develop as a musician and as a person through numerous lessons, moments on stage and rehearsals. He is also relentless in preparation, never afraid to propose his house for rehearsals when needed. He was a militant for the inclusion of young musicians in the Lebanese music scene, always bringing in young talents to form bands and projects.” He was a gem for Beirut and Lebanon and will be a gem in any city he finds himself in!”
Bruno Mokbel – Former student / Business and Operations Manager at BMAT, France
Curriculum Vitae
Thomas William Hornig
Saxophonist/ Educator/ Activist/ Selmer Artist
34-10, 75th Street, Apt. 6E
Jackson Hights, NY 11372
Email: tomhornig@gmail.com
Phone: 989-584-0265
Professional Experience
1994 -2021 Professor of Saxophone, Lebanese National Conservatory of Music
1994 – 2021 Performing Artists (details below)
1994 – 2021 Human Rights / Woman’s Rights Activist (Details Below)
1993/ JAN 94 – MS Amsterdam and Westerdam – Holland America (10-piece band)
1992 – 1993 – Euro Disney Opening (Jazz Orchestra in the New York Hotel)
1987 – 1989 298th Army Band, Berlin Germany – included performances throughout Europe in the audience of many high-ranking NATO officials. My last performance was at the US Embassy in EAST BERLIN leading a Jazz Quintet, entertaining members of the East German Politburo.
1986 – 1987 Jules Herman Big Band, Minneapolis
1986 – 1987 Club one-five Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Minneapolis
1984 – 1985 (June to September) Glacier National Park Jazz Trio Lounge Act – Many Glacier Hotel
1988 – Diploma from US Army Element School of Music
1983 – High School Diploma – Thomas Jefferson High School
Educational Experience
- Lebanese National Conservatory of Music, LHNCM (1994 – 2021)
Professor of Saxophone, Co-director of the LHNCM Big Band, Jazz Studies instructor
- Lebanese Band Association for the Promotion of Music (2009 – 2013)
Professor of Saxophone / Assistant Band Director/ Music Theory Instructor
- Jazz Instructor at Notre Dame University, Louaize Lebanon (Music Dept.)
- Saxophone Instructor, JEA Cyprus Jazz Workshop sponsored by the State Dept. (2011)
- Independent/ Personal educational initiatives:
- “FUS” (A 10-piece youth funk band playing the music of Tower of Power, Cold Blood etc. designed, organized to offer performance opportunities.
- “Deep Impression”, a 14-piece jazz orchestra playing a wide variety of genres designed, organized to offer performance opportunities.
- The “Beirut Saxophone Quartet”
- The Lebanese Conservatory Big Band (co-led for 10 years) designed, organized to offer performance opportunities.
- Proposal encouraging the institutionalization of large, youth concert wind ensembles and a youth Big Band at the LHNCM. (Click here to see the proposal)
- Proposal for an extensive update of the LHNCM Saxophone Curriculum. (Click here to see the proposal)
Studies
1992 – Diplome d’ Execution de Saxophone, Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris/ Alfred Cortot.
1989 – 1992 Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot. Classical Saxophone performance.
1988 – US Department of Defense School of Music
1983 – 1987 University of Minnesota School of Music. Jazz studies/ performance
My Mission as an Educator
To…
- Foster the artistic, intellectual, and personal growth of students and prepare them to embark on successful careers and productive lives as artists and citizens, as well as to become leaders in their professions.
- Continue to elevate its educational and artistic standards, remaining responsive to changing conditions in the performing arts community.
- Encourage and promote the recruitment of renowned faculty members in all disciplines by offering attractive salaries and providing a collaborative work environment and involving them fully in the artistic and educational life of the community.
- Uphold my own commitment to the diversity of my community by fostering an environment that is inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
- Take an active role in shaping the future of the performing arts through active participation and collaboration as well as promotion and support of artists and artistic activities, concerts, performances and exhibitions.
- Actively support efforts to offer a diverse program of live musical events with the primary goal of forming students with extensive experience in performance and to serve audiences with enlightening and entertaining programming.
- Encourage lifelong learning in the Arts.
Thomas Hornig 