Gabriel Kovach

Gabriel Kovach, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an active chamber and orchestral musician. Mr. Kovach has served as Principal Horn of the Phoenix Symphony since 2006. Prior to his appointment in Phoenix, he held the position of Principal Horn with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman. Other principal positions have included the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Glimmerglass Opera Festival, and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. He has also toured with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, performing as both Principal and Second Horn, and has appeared as Principal Horn with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

An active festival musician, Mr. Kovach participated in the prestigious Marlboro Music Festival from 2001 to 2003 and returned in 2022 as a Senior Artist. In 2019, he joined The Curtis Institute of Music for its national Curtis on Tour series, performing Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 20 and Penderecki’s Sextet. Additional festival appearances include Festival Mozaic, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Verbier Festival, and the Casals Festival.

Mr. Kovach continues to perform regularly with The Philadelphia Orchestra as a member of its substitute horn roster and has joined the orchestra on international tours, including engagements throughout Asia. He also served as Guest Associate Principal Horn for a subscription series in 2015. Additionally, he was guest Principal Horn with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra during the final season of Music Director Jeffrey Kahane's tenure.

Dedicated to education and mentorship, Mr. Kovach has taught at Curtis Summerfest and participated in Curtis Institute mentorship programs. He has presented masterclasses and clinics for the Southwest Regional Horn Conference, Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.

As a soloist, Mr. Kovach was invited to Poland in 2001 to record the world-premiere performance of Max Schubel’s Esquisses en désarroi, a rhapsody for cello, horn, and orchestra, with cellist Inbal Segev and the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra for Opus One Records. He has also appeared as a featured soloist with the Phoenix Symphony, performing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 and Mozart’s HornvConcerto No. 3.In addition to his performing career, Mr. Kovach collaborated with Houser Mouthpieces to develop his own line of French horn mouthpieces and worked with renowned builder Jim Patterson of Patterson Hornworks on the design of a custom triple horn. He performs exclusively on this combination in both orchestral and chamber settings.

Mr. Kovach is proud to be an Artist Endorser for Conn-Selmer.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Myron Bloom and Barry Tuckwell, Mr. Kovach earned his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, studying with Julie Landsman and Jerome Ashby.