Patrick Walle

Instrument: Horn

With the RPO since: 2009

Hometown: Troy, MI   

Non-RPO activities and hobbies: Cycling, yoga, health food, and most recently photography

What music school did you attend, and who were your most inspirational teachers? The Eastman School of Music where I studied with Peter Kurau.

Favorite books/movies: My favorite books are Ender’s Game, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, It’s Not About the Bike, or any books written by Tom Clancy or Chuck Palahniuk. 

What kinds of music do you enjoy listening to? Outside of the classical genre, I enjoy anything really, including all different forms of jazz and electronic music to name a couple. 

And if you had to pick just one, what’s your favorite piece? Mahler’s Ninth Symphony

People would be surprised to know … I like to take five-hour bike rides on the weekends!

What do you most enjoy about living in the Rochester area? I love the summer and the fall. There are so many fantastic outdoor activities. The Finger Lakes provide amazing scenery for bike riding. 

What are your favorite restaurants in Rochester, and why? Max Chophouse is my favorite restaurant because they really know how to prepare a steak!

The RPO is essential to the Rochester community because … There is nothing better than live music. The RPO is a cultural foundation for all of Rochester. I also believe that the RPO is an essential asset to the Eastman student body. There is no better way to learn and grow as a performer than to hear music performed live.

What sports team(s) do you root for? I LOVE cycling. My favorite team is the underdog Garmin-Cervelo!

Favorite late-night snack: Apple sliced with cinnamon and almond butter, or my one food vice, Nutella on a spoon.

What is your favorite way to spend your day off? Either a long bike ride, or walk with my dog Bear! I also experiment with cooking food from different cultures that taste great and are healthy.

What is your most memorable musical experience? Performing Mahler 6 with Günther Herbig and the RPO in 2008. I was still a student at the Eastman School, and I was overwhelmed by the incredible sound of the RPO.

 

Biography

Hornist Patrick J. Walle has performed throughout Western and Central New York since 2005 in various positions with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Syracuse Symphony, and the RPO. He will complete his studies at the Eastman School of Music in December 2009, studying with Professor Peter Kurau (RPO Principal Horn). He received his Performers Certificate in 2009, and was a Howard Hanson Scholar. Mr. Walle has attended numerous summer festivals, including the Pierre Monteux School for Conducting, the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, and the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute.