Eric Ruske A horn player who loves music Cornucopia, September 1999

"Every note I play is a note I want to play," says Eric Ruske. "As a soloist, I have the freedom to play only what I enjoy playing."

Eric recalls his years with the Cleveland Orchestra, how so many of his colleagues had lost the joy of making music. He understands how it can happen. "Sometimes they are overqualified," he explains. "They play the same pieces over and over, and maybe not the most challenging parts. And orchestra schedules are so full, there is little time or energy left over for other activities such as teaching, chamber music, or a solo career."

Eric now spends about 150 days per year on the road, which is about right for him. He started traveling with the Empire Brass, but prefers life as a soloist. He performs with orchestras all over the world, recording with some like the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He plays chamber music at summer festivals; the Newport festival is his favorite. "They have three to five concerts every day," he says, "so when I'm not playing, I get to hear others. And the music making there is fantastic."

Eric worries about his students. He grew up near Chicago and studied with Dale Clevenger at Northwestern. Now he teaches at Boston University. "At the beginning of the school year, all these new horn students arrive," he says. "Why do we admit so many students when there are so few jobs? Are we misleading the students into something where there is no work?"

He answers his own question. "Even if there is no job in horn playing, they still have learned a work ethic, how to solve problems -- skills to bring to any career. Music takes self-discipline. The students have to practice every day, and learn on their own between lessons. And they learn to love music, a joy they will have all their lives."

Speaking of loving music, Eric obviously does. "Music is everything that I do during the day -- with the students, with my two boys -- it's all one big package. People relate to music -- not necessarily cerebrally, just that it speaks to the human condition. I believe that horn playing should be as emotional as possible, and at the same time as technical as possible."

In addition to teaching during the year at BU, Eric conducts an intense two-week horn institute at Tangle- wood each summer. He gives back to the horn community, contributing to regional workshops. At the first Northeast workshop, he played Bach and Mozart flute and violin sonatas along with more traditional horn fare. Everyone who heard his playing and comments there appreciated how much he loves all good music.

Eric teaches at Boston University, travels extensively as a soloist and clinician, and generously supports horn workshops. In the photo at top right, he is giving a masterclass at the IHS workshop in Beijing with Xiao-Ming Xie translating into Chinese.

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