Not too long ago I went to visit Karl Hill, who makes Kortesmaki horns.
His workshop, as always, is exquisitely organized with visible evidence of the current horn creation underway. Karl tells me, “yeah, this is Paul’s bell over here”, referring to the long straight horn bell for the triple horn that is underway for a horn player he has known for many years. Each horn Karl builds was ordered 3+ years ago and represents a horn player that is waiting with great anticipation for the day they will hold and make music on their very own, hand made Kortesmaki. His shop is filled with a hopeful, creative energy spurred on by appreciation and fueled by life-long humility born out of quest for excellence. Hope hangs in the air. . .the hope of a horn that will serve someone’s musical endeavor’s for a lifetime. Appreciation and honor is exhibited on the wall board, in full view from the workbench, which is filled with photos and letters of gratitude and appreciation for Karl’s work by renowned horn performers such as Hermann Baumann, Gail Williams, Karl Pituch, and Dave Krebiel. Karl is a gift to those of us who know him because in addition to putting heart and soul into his craft producing amazing horns, he is a heartfelt colleague and friend! Thank you, Karl!
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