Lincoln, Neb.--Glenn Korff School of Music alumnus Steven Cohen (B.A. 2014; M.M. 2015; M.B.A. 2023) was named Hornist of the Year as part of the European Classical Music Awards Annual Grand Prix for 2025.
“I was in absolute shock when I opened the email,” Cohen said. “As the competition is based in Europe, the email was awaiting me when I woke up on Sunday, Feb. 1 and reading it was like the ultimate shot of espresso at 7 a.m. It’s hard to say how many horn players entered given that the Annual Grand Prix is made up of entrants from all the competitions from the calendar year, so this is truly an incredible honor to receive.”
According to Professor of Horn Alan Mattingly, Cohen’s recognition highlights his exceptional musicianship and commitment to his craft.
“Steven’s recognition as the Hornist of the Year is greatly deserved,” Mattingly said. “He continues to demonstrate an extraordinary combination of technical mastery, natural musical insight and expressive depth in his playing and combines it with a sense of relentless dedication. This is truly what sets him apart. Seeing him honored on this international stage is wonderfully gratifying and completely unsurprising. It has been a joy watching him grow and succeed.”
In 2025, Cohen entered two competitions run by the European Classical Music Awards—their 2025 Classical Music Artist Awards and their 2025 European Classical Music Visionary Awards.
“As a gold prize winner in each of those competitions, it awarded me the opportunity to enter into the Annual Grand Prix,” Cohen said. “I feel honored to have won this prize as it celebrates the work I’ve been doing to promote new music for the horn and my sharing of those works over the last decade, as both a solo artist and through my NU CORNO ensemble. The Grand Prix prize adds encouragement to push myself more to continue on with my mission of giving back to the global horn community through new works and expanding the footprint of my international projects.”
For the competitions, Cohen submitted a live performance recording of Kevin Day’s “Windborne: Concerto for Horn and Wind Ensemble” with Glenn Korff School of Music alumnus Jacob Wallace and the South Dakota State University Wind Symphony. For the Grand Prix competition, he also submitted the world premiere performance of Emma Gregan’s “Meet You Again” from his September 2025 recital with Marguerite Scribante Professor of Piano Paul Barnes in the new Westbrook Music Building performance hall.
Cohen has performed internationally as a solo, orchestral, Broadway and chamber musician. Hailing from New York, he is in demand as a recital soloist and has been a featured guest artist at musical events throughout the world.
He was a finalist for the American Prize in Music as an instrumental soloist in 2024 and was featured on WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase, presenting one of only three full-length horn recitals in the program’s history.
Cohen was principal horn with The New 25th Anniversary production of “Les Misérables and can be seen with Mannheim Steamroller on their latest release, “Mannheim Steamroller Live.”
A proponent for the creation of new music, Cohen has commissioned and premiered more than 60 works over the last decade. He is the founder and artistic director of NU CORNO, the premiere international horn ensemble for the creation of new music for the genre.
He plans to stay busy in 2026.
“I’m looking forward to the 58th International Horn Symposium in Krakow, Poland, in July where NU CORNO JAZZ, a part of my NU CORNO ensemble, will be featured, along with playing a small solo recital during the symposium,” Cohen said. “I’m also actively working on the planning process and commissioning of new works for my next solo album coming in 2027.”
