CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER!
Welcome
Midwest Alphorn Retreat
A total immersion in the alphorn.
Our 2023 Midwest Alphorn Retreat will be held in Lowell, Michigan, July 26-30th. Our registration form is posted on our EVENTS page.
What We're About
The purpose of the Midwest Alphorn Retreat (MAR) is to provide an opportunity for alphorn enthusiasts from all over the United States to gather for five days of "total immersion" in the alphorn. Attendees have private and group lessons with Dr. Peggy DeMers or William Rose and play in several large and small ensembles. Players share music and fellowship as well as learn about the alphorn, its history, playing techniques and available music.
The annual event is organized and managed by John and Christine Griffith from Kalamazoo, MI. Spouses are welcome to join in the event, space available, and a public performance is held during each retreat.
It is truly a unique experience and a very good time is had by all!
Dr. Peggy DeMers
Our artistic director and educator, Dr. Peggy DeMers is Professor of Horn at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Peggy's musical and horn studies were at the Cincinnati Conservatory (M.M.) and the University of Wisconsin at Madison (B.M., D.M.A), with Douglas Hill and Michael Hatfield. Her extensive teaching, orchestral, and other ensemble experience includes principal horn with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and with orchestras in Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York. Currently she is principal horn of the Lake Charles, Louisiana Symphony.
Congratulations to Peggy who recently won second place in solo at the Valais Drink Pure Festival Cor des Alpes in Nendaz, Switzerland while performing Searching and Finding by Doug Hill. This is the first time this honor has been awarded to an American. We're so proud of her!
Dr. DeMers will be assisted by
William Rose during the retreat.
William Rose
We are very pleased to welcome William Rose as our assistant educator/instructor at the 2023 Midwest Alphorn Retreat. Bill has been attending our retreat for many years, including two trips to Switzerland where he competed at the Valais Drink Pure Festival Cor des Alpes in Nendaz. Bill brings loads of musical experience and knowledge to the table as well as running his own alphorn studio at McNeese University.
Associate Professor of Performing Arts (Music – Low Brass; Brass Area Coordinator)
Asst. Dept. Head/Coordinator of Technology and Equipment/Music Theory
W.A and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts
Box 92175
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA 70609
337-475-5032/fax 337-475-5063
cell: 337-802-3187
roseb@mcneese.edu
Chair, ITA Press
Yamaha Performing Artist
Melodious Arts Composition Fellow
AT&T Professorship 2017-18
JP Morgan Chase Professorship 2018-19
Henry C. Alexander Professorship
in Music #2 2019-2020
Henry C. Alexander Professorship
in Music #2 2020-2021
JP Morgan Chase Professorship 2021-22
Recipient, 2022 President’s Award for Excellence, McNeese State University