Today we’d like to introduce you to Anni Hochhalter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anni. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Oakland, CA and lived in the Bay Area until I was 11 years old. My twin sister and I grew up dancing ballet and some of my fondest memories are performing in the Nutcracker with the Oakland Ballet. In 1998, my family moved to Las Vegas, NV and there I began playing the French horn. I then went to the University of Southern California and received a Bachelor of Arts in French horn Performance. I loved living in Los Angeles and studying with the studio musicians who played on all of the major film scores. Training as a classical musician also allowed me to play with orchestras and chamber ensembles all over the country and travel internationally.
My career as a chamber musician began when I spontaneously decided to move to Houston in 2010 to join WindSync and has been the product of passionate dreaming and hard work. I am so incredibly lucky to be able to collaborate daily with four of the smartest, most talented, and dedicated musicians I have ever met. Managing your own chamber ensemble and non-profit organization is considered rather unconventional by classical music standards, but has provided the most rewarding experiences I could possibly imagine.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has been a wild ride with surprises and challenges at every turn! However, we have relished those moments as great learning experiences and have relied heavily upon the guidance of our most loyal patrons and the amazing resources and support found within the Houston arts community. For example, in 2012 WindSync formed a non-profit organization and received our first grant funding awards by participating in programs and workshops held by the Houston Arts Alliance and Fresh Arts. The presentation of ensemble’s educational programming in schools was fostered by Young Audiences of Houston and continues to be today. With the support of these Houston-based organizations and our wonderful board of directors, we have been able to navigate the hurdles of an exciting and nontraditional career path.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with WindSync – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
WindSync began at Rice University in 2009 as a student “wind quintet” consisting of five wind musicians including the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and French horn. In 2010, flutist Garrett Hudson, the other founding musicians, and I launched WindSync as a vehicle for enriching, educating, and inspiring diverse communities. We wanted to test our theory that a career in a wind quintet was a viable option for ambitious, classically trained musicians by focusing on two major activities: presenting and performing world-class chamber music concerts as well as building communities through educational programs and creative placemaking.
Over the last 8 years, WindSync has experienced an incredible evolution, artistically and organizationally. In its ninth season, WindSync is now an established international touring ensemble that builds highly thematic programs that feature landmark quintets, new works by American composers, and premiere arrangements of standard repertoire with the goal of increasing accessibility and cultural significance of wind chamber music. Gold Medalist in the National Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and winner of the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh International Competition, WindSync is known for dramatic, fully memorized concert presentations that often feature collaborators from the worlds of music, dance, and multimedia. WindSync takes a special interest in reaching children, families, and underserved audiences, partnering annually with organizations such as Young Audiences of Houston, Music for Autism, and the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington.
Most recently the group was selected for the 2017 Sound Places program in partnership with Chamber Music America, the Louisiana Arts Division of the Arts, Project for Public Spaces, and grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts. In Houston, WindSync has presented programs at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston, the Menil Collection, and Miller Outdoor Theatre.
-Public Performance: December 9, 2017 “Simple Gifts” at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall – Tickets available: windsync.org
-Public Performance: April 21, 2018 “The Universal Language” at the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston – Tickets available: windsync.org
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the richness and diversity of the arts and culture in Houston, the open minds of Houston audiences, and the enthusiasm for collaboration from other arts organizations. This city has been a wonderful playground for us and an inspiring and energizing place to call home. What I like least about our city is the lack of awareness around the country and world of the amazing arts scene in Houston. It is our goal as a touring ensemble to increase this awareness and represent Houston nationally and internationally.
Contact Info:
- Address: 220 Westmoreland Houston, TX 77006
- Website: windsync.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/windsync/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WindSync/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/windsync
Image Credit:
Shannon Langman, David Baker
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
