Michael Gast was appointed principal horn of the Minnesota Orchestra in the fall of 2004. He began playing the horn at the late age of fifteen in Tallahassee, Florida. Gast entered Florida State University at seventeen as a performance scholarship student with Dr. William Capps.
Three years later, Gast was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Mason Jones, received his bachelor of music degree, and was named a finalist in The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Concerto Competition. Upon graduation, he headed the horn section of the Jacksonville Symphony and served as assistant principal horn of the San Antonio Symphony.
Much in demand as a section leader, Gast has served as substitute principal horn in the orchestras of the Grand Teton Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Festival L’Aquila Opera Orchestra, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, among others. He constantly explores the horn’s solo repertoire, and has been a featured soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Miami Chamber Orchestra, Sunriver Music Festival, Winters Chamber Orchestra, Musical Offerings, Texas Bach Choir, and at International Horn Society Workshops.
Gast has covered an extensive range of chamber music with a variety of groups, artists, and venues around the world. His sound can be heard on numerous orchestral recordings and Children’s videos produced by the Minnesota Orchestra. He can also be heard on weekly national and international broadcasts of the Minnesota Orchestra’s concerts and on Garrison Keillor’s latest radio program compilation release, Definitely Above Average.
Last modified on July 2, 2007