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Frank H. Horsfall (1883-1968)
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Frank H.
Horsfall was a prominent Pacific Northwest musician who directly or
indirectly influenced a great many flutists locally and nationally. He was
in the Seattle Symphony for 46 continuous seasons (35 of those as
Principal), a member of the University of Washington faculty for 20 years,
and a friend and colleague of many renowned artists. He was a sought-after obbligatist for stars such as Lily Pons, Lauritz Melchior, Patrice Munzel
and Martha Graham. He also enjoyed playing in the Western Washington Fair
Band every September for 25 years and marching with the Nile Temple Band at
conventions and parades whenever his busy schedule would allow it. He had
many offers to join major eastern symphonies, but chose to stay with the
students and musical associations in his beloved Northwest. His greatest
pleasure was in teaching. He taught for nearly 60 years and many of his
students gained prominence of their own in famous orchestras across the
country.
Frank was
born in Tacoma of English parents who had emigrated from Yorkshire in 1867.
When Washington became a state in 1889 his father was a Tacoma Councilman.
After the 8th grade, Frank left school and entered into a four-year
apprenticeship to become a machinist. On the side, he learned to play a
fife, talked his way into a fife-and-drum corps, bought a $2 piccolo and a
$10 flute and began his musical career. He set aside one third of his wages
for lessons and would search out any appropriate music professional who came
within reach, for good teachers were hard to find. He also took several
off-hours business courses in order to manage his future financial affairs.
All his life, he looked for ways to learn, improve and expand his knowledge.
In 1901
he became a journeyman machinist and worked at that trade with music as an
avocation. At age 22, having also learned to play the saxophone, he put
aside machinist tools to play flute and sax in local dance orchestras. The
big break came in 1909 - an invitation to be a member of the original
Seattle Symphony Orchestra. To augment his symphony income he taught a few
lessons and played in park bands, dance bands and pit orchestras for
vaudeville, ballets and musical comedies. He and two other flutists even
formed an act, "The Three Magic Flutes", and toured for a short time on the
Orpheum vaudeville circuit. During World War I he was a machinist at the
shipyard by day and a musician by night, but when the war ended he again
devoted his full attention to music.
Lulu C.
Smith (1889-1983) was born in Minneapolis of Norwegian and German parents
who moved to Tacoma when she was a toddler. She became an expert pianist and
Frank's favorite dancing partner. They were married in 1913 and she shared
his life for 55 years thereafter, creating a loving home for their two sons
and a supportive atmosphere for her musician husband. She was continuously
active in school and university organizations and in music circles. Lu was a
talented artist, seamstress and cook. The students who sat in her warm
kitchen waiting for their lessons appreciated her cheery ways.
Frank's
long career encompassed many activities and interests. He was a business
manager, real estate entrepreneur, artistic photographer and lifelong
adventurer. In 1920 he and Lu went up the inside coast of British Columbia
in a small outboard boat, camping on the wild beaches each night. He climbed
Mt. Rainier in 1925, starting from the Longmire's residence, where Lu helped
attend to
those waiting for the return of the hiking party. One summer he and three
other musicians hiked 300 miles through Glacier National Park. Each evening
they would haul out their instruments to entertain fellow campers. When over
80 years old, he photographed Kauai's Waimea Canyon leaning out of an open
helicopter.
An
outgoing man, with effervescence and enthusiasm, he was never one to hold
back if the opportunity came along to make new friends. After a concert by
the touring London Philharmonic Orchestra, for example, he went backstage to
meet the flute section. That evening, after taking them on a tour of
Seattle, they all ended up in his basement studio playing music from his
library and enjoying Lu's gracious hospitality.
In the
mid-30's, he joined with the principal clarinet and oboe players of the
symphony, both teachers interested in youth, to form the Seattle Symphony
Woodwind Trio. They are still remembered for the humorous and educational
music-appreciation programs they put on at countless school assemblies.
Certainly
he was proud of what he was able to achieve in his lifetime, but he took the
most pride in the accomplishments of his students. As their lives
progressed, he would follow their advancements with the interest of a
parent. Julius Baker, during one visit to the Seattle Flute Society,
mentioned his long acquaintance with Frank and commented, "Bill Kincaid and
I envied Frank's natural rapport and easy way with young people -- he loved
his students and they loved him."
His last
private lesson was given just three months before his death in March 1968,
at the age of 84. Lu, blessed with good health and a bright-side philosophy,
continued to lead an active life until her death in November 1983, at 94.
The
Seattle Flute Society's Frank and Lu Horsfall Competition helps perpetuate
their memory and the influence they had on the musical history of the
Pacific Northwest.
--By John Horsfall
Horsfall Competition Winners |
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| Year |
Upper Division |
Lower Division |
| 2012 |
Candy Chang |
Zachary Kellogg |
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Linda Chesis, adjudicator |
Nicole Molumby, adjudicator |
| 2011 |
Evan Pengra Sult |
Lucy Schermer |
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Jonathan Keeble, adjudicator |
Sydney Carlson, adjudicator |
| 2010 |
Zoe Funai |
Candy Chang |
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Lisa Garner Santa, adjudicator |
Molly Barth, adjudicator |
| 2009 |
Lauren Glass |
Zachary Kellogg |
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Marianne Gedigian, adjudicator |
Leonard Garrison, adjudicator |
| 2008 |
Angela Potter & Zoe Funai (tie) |
Darien French-Owen |
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Tadeu Coelho, adjudicator |
Lisa McCarthy, adjudicator |
| 2007 |
Rhiannon Bronstein |
Simon Berry |
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Christina Jennings, adjudicator |
Nancy Andrew, adjudicator |
| 2006 |
Julie Phillips |
Lauren Glass |
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Jill Felber, adjudicator |
Claudia Anderson, adjudicator |
| 2005 |
Kathryn Ladner |
Henry Williford |
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Mary Karen Clardy, adjudicator |
Bruce Bodden, adjudicator |
| 2004 |
Kasumi Leonard |
Sydney Kaser |
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Amy Porter, adjudicator |
Merrie Siegel, adjudicator |
| 2003 |
Haemi Shin |
Rebecca Page |
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Bradley Garner, adjudicator |
Brenda Fedoruk, adjudicator |
| 2002 |
Nadia Kyne |
Laura Frank |
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Timothy Day, adjudicator |
Mary Byrne, adjudicator |
| 2001 |
Christina Sjoquist |
Kasumi Leonard |
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Donald Peck, adjudicator |
Richard Hahn, adjudicator |
| 2000 |
Sonja Nesvig |
Elizabeth Fraser |
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Janet Ferguson, adjudicator |
Zart Dombourian-Eby, adjudicator |
| 1999 |
Katherine Huber |
Jeffrey Barker |
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Patricia Spencer, adjudicator |
Hal Ott, adjudicator |
| 1998 |
Mi-Ryung Song |
Kate Huber |
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Susan Milan, adjudicator |
Gretel Shanley, adjudicator |
| 1997 |
Courtland Richardson and Ji-Hye Kim (tie) |
Hari Shroff |
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Alexa Still, adjudicator |
Max Schoenfeld, adjudicator |
| 1996 |
Joy Rivera |
Connie Schoepflin |
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Alexandra Hawley, adjudicator |
Kenichi Ueda, adjudicator |
| 1995 |
Greg Pattillo |
Ji-Hye Kim |
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John Barcellona, adjudicator |
Liam Watson, adjudicator |
| 1994 |
Joy Fuhrman |
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Sheridon Stokes, adjudicator |
Patrick Purswell, adjudicator |
| 1993 |
Jamie Marshall |
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Bonita Boyd, adjudicator |
Paul Taub, adjudicator |
| 1992 |
Michelle Brandt |
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Mary Louise Poor, adjudicator |
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| 1991 |
Donna Shin |
Greg Pattillo |
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Julia Bogorad, adjudicator |
Ralph Guenther, adjudicator |
| 1990 |
Elizabeth Gray |
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Lanny Pollet, adjudicator |
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| 1989 |
No First Place Award Jean Beaudoin (2nd) |
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Richard Hahn, adjudicator |
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| 1988 |
Liza Jensen |
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John Barcellona, adjudicator |
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| 1987 |
Sara Lundgren |
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Adele Lorraine, adjudicator |
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| 1986 |
Amy Snover |
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Sheridon Stokes, adjudicator |
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| 1985 |
Danielle Rangel |
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Per Řien, adjudicator |
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Horsfall Competition winners, 2005, from left to right: Dr. Mary Karen Clardy, Sojung Yi, Janna Ruberry, Lauren Glass, Kathryn Ladner, Perrin Romine, Horsfall Coordinator - Rose Johnson, and Chelley Fromm |
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