Neil Kimel - Horn
A native of Chicago, Neil Kimel began his horn studies with first Mary Gingrich and then her husband Daniel of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Pursuing more than one discipline, Neil attended the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee where he continued his horn studies with Barry Benjamin while he earned a BA in cinema studies with an English minor. While residing in Milwaukee, Neil won the position of 3rd horn of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. Soon afterwards, Neil was invited to join the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida where he performed under the baton of its music director, Michael Tilson Thomas. During his tenure there, Neil recorded two orchestral CDs, performed in front of the orchestra in Schumann's Konzertstuck and Telemann's Concerto for Two Horns, traveled with the orchestra on tours of Central America and Europe and was a founding member of the Metropolis Winds woodwind quintet. In previous summers, Neil has participated in many different festivals including Spoleto USA, Kent/Blossom Chamber Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and the Tanglewood Music Center where he was awarded the C.D. Jackson Memorial Prize and the Harry Shapiro Award for Outstanding Brass Playing.
After returning to Chicago, Neil was named second horn of the Grant Park Orchestra and has recorded six CDs with the ensemble. Mr. Kimel is a former member of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Sarasota (FL) Opera Orchestra, as well as a frequent performer with many of Chicago's finest ensembles including Chicago Opera Theater, Fulcrum Point, Chicago Philharmonic, Ars Viva, Ravinia Festival Orchestra and Lyric Opera of Chicago. In addition, Neil has performed with the Symphony Orchestras of Columbus (OH), Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Chicago and the Cleveland Orchestra with whom he toured to Vienna playing in the famed Musikverein.
In 2006, Mr. Kimel performed the solo horn book for the world premiere, Chicago run as well as the Broadway opening in 2007 of the newest musical from the creators of Les Miserables entitled The Pirate Queen. In the fall of 2008, Neil was awarded the 2nd horn chair of the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago by Sir Andrew Davis.
When he isn't playing his horn, Neil enjoys cooking and traveling with his wife Sandy as well as playing racquetball, watching movies and reading.
