Paul Austin joined the Grand Rapids Symphony (GRS) horn section in 1999. He immediately became active in committee work as well as a meteoric rise at the Regional Orchestra Players' Association (ROPA), being named Delegate, Member-at-Large and Vice President all within one year.
In 2013, Paul was instrumental in the drive for the GRS to join ICSOM and is proud to have served as their first ICSOM Delegate. He was elected to ICSOM's Governing Board as a Member-at-Large in 2015 and became ICSOM President in 2017.
Today Paul Austin enjoys a multifaceted career as orchestral player, chamber musician and pedagogue. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Tennessee Tech University. Post-graduate training includes the Resident Artist program at the Banff Centre for the Arts as well as being the recipient of a Gilmore Emerging Artist grant from the Kalamazoo Arts Council, allowing him to study in London.
Currently he is Wind Coordinator and Instructor of Horn at Interlochen's Chamber Music Camp. For twenty years Paul was Resident Horn Player, Education Director and Board Member for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck. Paul actively promotes historical instruments and is the author of A Modern Valve Horn Player's Guide to the Natural Horn.
