Frostburg State University French Horn Student Daniel Coughenour to Present Senior Recital “Back Toot the Classics”
Oct 27, 2026 8:00 AM
Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will present the senior recital of French horn student Daniel Coughenour, accompanied by pianist Dr. Joseph Yungen, on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The program, titled “Back Toot the Classics,” is free and open to the public. The recital will also be livestreamed, and viewers can access the stream via the link at www.frostburg.edu/concerts.
The program features three cornerstone works of the horn repertoire, opening with “Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 11” by Richard Strauss. Composed in 1882–83 when the composer was only 18, the concerto was written with his father, the celebrated hornist Franz Strauss, in mind. Though Franz found the demanding high and low register writing too risky for public performance, the work quickly became one of the most beloved and frequently performed 19th-century horn concertos. Its bold, heroic opening, lyrical middle section, and virtuosic finale showcase the instrument’s full expressive and technical range.
Joined by FSU French horn instructor Anna Lorenzen, they will perform “5 Duets for 2 Horns” by Gioachino Rossini. These charming early pieces, composed around 1806 when Rossini was about 14, were written for natural (valveless) horns. Rossini’s father was a professional horn and trumpet player who taught his son the instrument, and the duets reflect the light, classical style of the period with marches, minuets, and lyrical exchanges. Coughenour will perform them with guest artist Lorenzen.
The program concludes with “Sonata for Horn and Piano” by Paul Hindemith. Completed in 1939 shortly after the outbreak of World War II, this substantial sonata is one of the major 20th-century contributions to the horn repertoire. Part of Hindemith’s extensive series of instrumental sonatas, it balances assertive rhythmic drive with lyrical passages and remains a staple for advanced hornists.
A Bachelor of Music candidate anticipated to graduate in spring 2027, Coughenour has maintained Dean’s List status and earned multiple scholarships, including the Rural Educator for Appalachian Children (REACH) Scholarship, FSU Purpose Scholarship, Woodward & Virginia Pealer Scholarship, Music Program Instrumental Scholarship, Henry A. Smith, Jr. Music Management Scholarship, Iris Halmos Presidential Merit Scholarship in Music, Sandra K. Saville Presidential Merit Scholarship for the Arts, Shockley Family Endowed Scholarship and Marguerite Witwer Richards Endowed Scholarship.
His instructors have included current FSU French horn instructor Anna Lorenzen; earlier FSU instructor Avery (Pettigrew) Staples; and Casey Stahlman ’14, music teacher at HOPE for Hyndman Charter School in Hyndman, Pa. Coughenour graduated from HOPE for Hyndman Charter School in spring 2023. He is the son of Royce and Angie Coughenour of Hyndman, Pa. His career goals remain open within the music industry.
For more information about FSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance and upcoming events, visit music.frostburg.edu.