Allen Spanjer

R. Allen Spanjer joined the New York Philharmonic as Second Horn in February 1993. His solo debut with the Philharmonic was in 1995 in Schumann’s Konzertstück for Four Horns. Prior to that, he was a full-time freelance musician in New York City, performing in a broad range of classical and commercial settings. During this time he was also a frequent substitute with the NYP, as well as with the Pittsburgh Symphony, where he played one season as substitute Third Horn, and spent one season as Second Horn with the Orquesta Filamonica de la UNAM in Mexico City.

A Georgia native, Mr. Spanjer was a student of Ranier DeIntinis at The Juilliard School and Norman Schweikert at Interlochen Arts Academy. He also studied with Philip Farkas at the Aspen Music Festival, Paul Ingraham at SUNY Purchase, Martin Smith at the Waterloo Music Festival, Harry Shapiro at the Tanglewood Festival, and Carmine Caruso privately in New York City.

Mr. Spanjer maintains as active teaching studio in New York City. He has been on the Faculty of the Brevard Music Center, and is frequently a guest performer & teacher at Music Schools around the US. He performs regularly on the NYP Ensembles chamber music series at Merkin Concert Hall, was a Featured Artist at the International Horn Society’s Symposium in 1999, and has been a guest artist at several regional horn workshops.

In addition to his New York Philharmonic work and teaching horn, he is a certified instructor of the Alexander Technique. He graduated from the American Center for the Alexander Technique in New York City in 1981.

Mr. Spanjer has published an article on Mahler’s Ninth Symphony in the Horn Call, the journal of the International Horn Society, and an article on Horn and the Alexander Technique.
Manhattan School of Music faculty since 2008.