Michelle Hembree has been the KSO’s principal hornist since 2017. From 2019-2021, she served as acting principal horn of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Additionally, she frequently performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and New World Symphony. She also has appeared with the Lexington Philharmonic, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Boise Philharmonic.

Michelle has appeared as soloist with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Seven Hills Sinfonietta, and Meridian Symphony. She is a 2017 Yamaha Young Performing Artist and CCM Kemp Horn Scholar of her class. She also has won numerous competitions, including the Three Arts Neff Scholarship, CCM Undergraduate Instrumentalist competition, YoungArts Merit award, and Andrew Howell Memorial competition.

Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in horn performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Randy Gardner and Denise Tryon. Michelle also completed a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from UC’s Lindner College of Business.

A native of Boise, Idaho, Michelle’s interest in music began at age 5, when she started playing violin. She discovered the horn at age 10. Outside of music, Michelle enjoys skiing, hiking, and traveling.

The KSO provides our community a rich and vibrant cultural commodity with the wide variety of music it performs. The Corkens are happy to support Michelle in honor of the French horn, the instrument their granddaughter played in band.