Episode 70: Dr. Derek J. Wright

Join us in Episode 70 for a conversation with Dr. Derek J. Wright! Derek plays 3rd horn with the award-winning Dallas Winds and in the West Texas Symphony. He has performed with several major orchestras including the Fort Worth Symphony and the Dallas Symphony. Dr. Wright is also a co-owner of Houghton Horns. He has contributed to the design of horns and mouthpieces for the Verus brand and frequently speaks on instrument design and acoustics at various educational institutions.

Episode Highlights

• Horn playing journey, education, influences, etc.
• Studying with Kazimierz Machala at the University of Illinois, followed by Masters at University of Minnesota, Doctorate at Arizona State University
• Moving to Texas, getting started with Houghton Horns, and eventually becoming a co-owner
• Houghton Horns Retail Shop and Repair Shop are two different businesses
• “Bad practice is worse than no practice…”
• Horn/mouthpiece design
• Marketing, communication, and other aspects of the business
• Skills learned as a musician that have been helpful in business, and vice-versa
• Upcoming projects/developments
• New Houghton Horns building with concert hall
• Importance of the IHS to you and Houghton Horns
• “I need to always learn…”
• National Association of Music Merchandisers
• National Association of School Music Dealers, Inc
• Molly Gebrian, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing
• The Savvy Musician by David Cutler