Department of Music

Cara Kizer

Cara Kizer is currently a nationally active freelancer, and college professor in the St. Louis and Illinois areas. Born in Texas, she began horn at the age of 14. Her studies began at Texas Tech University where she studied under Anthony Brittin, a student of James Chambers. She continued on to The Juilliard School for a master’s degree, where she studied under the late Jerome Ashby, Associate Principal Horn of the New York Philharmonic. Cara received an artist diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music where she studied under Jerome Ashby and Jennifer Montone, Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As an orchestral musician, Cara has held positions with numerous orchestras. She was Assistant Principal Utility Horn of the New York Philharmonic. She held the same position with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She also played second horn with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. While in New York City, she played on Broadway, with The Orchestra of St Lukes, City Opera, and can he heard on many movie scores. She has been a substitute musician with the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra.