Kevin Rivard
2001 National ARTS Finalist and Presidential Scholar in the Arts
Music / Instrumental /
French Horn
St. Petersburg, FL
Sponsored by
Bank of America Foundation
Kevin Christopher Rivard graduated from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. He has won several awards and honors including third place at the Bach Society Festival of Winter Park in 1999 and was featured with a brass quartet on the National Public Radio program "From the Top" at the Disney Institute in Orlando, FL.
Kevin was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA, for the only opening for horn and received a full tuition scholarship from the Juilliard School in New York. Kevin's mentor, Carolyn Wahl, according to Kevin, has been an "amazing horn teacher… and best friend."
Kevin says he first knew he was an artist when he studied a romantic solo by Strauss in 1997. "This was when I first learned of the 'emotional highs' one can experience through music," Kevin said. "The horn never came too easy for me. I work hard to be able to do what I do. Since my first notes on the horn I've been practicing… I am determined to succeed."
Kevin is currently studying with Julie Landsman, the principal horn of the MET opera orchestra. He also had the opportunity to perform in Carnegie hall this past winter when attending the New York String Seminar. This summer he will attend the Sarasota Music Festival, which is a three week music festival in Florida.