Discover Your Sound.
About Alec Chinnery
Alec Chinnery is a French Horn player and teacher originally from the Seattle area and currently living in Los Angeles. Alec holds a Bachelors in French Horn Performance from Central Washington University where he studied with Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker. Currently he is studying with Dylan Hart at California State University, Northridge for his master’s degree. Alec has played with a variety of groups both professionally, for fun, and while in school. Examples include Saratoga Orchestra, Wenatchee Symphony, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Edmonds High School Theatre department, and with the Central Washington University ensembles. Especially notably, he had the privilege of playing in their Wind Ensemble for the 2024 WASBE conference in Gwangju, South Korea. Alec has also performed with the CWU Horn Ensemble in the Northwest Horn Symposium since 2022, as well as at the 2024 International Horn Symposium in Fort Collins, Colorado. He is an active private lesson instructor, teaching students of all ages and abilities either in person or online. He places an emphasis on giving students the tools necessary to help continue their progress without the help from a teacher - all while providing a safe and fun environment where students can be their true-selves and learn to love making and sharing music. When not holding a horn, Alec likes going sailing, riding his motorcycle and spending time with his very patient fiancé and small dachshund.
Teaching Philosophy
I teach horn because I believe that music, and specifically the horn are a great means of expression, intellectual growth, and connection through music. My goal is to not just help students become technically capable musicians, but also to help them become thoughtful and self-aware musicians who can then become their own teachers.
My teaching approach has 3 main aspects: Fundamentals, Musicality, and Community.
A student needs to have solid fundamentals to their playing. Fundamentals include Embouchure, Scales, Rhythm, Intonation, and Air support. Without any one of these, you cannot progress or hope to achieve the remaining 2 aspects of my teaching approach. The student does not by any means need these before taking lessons, but I will work with the student to develop these foundational skills that are necessary to play the instrument. I will also instill the concept that Fundamentals are a necessity at any level, and are something that musicians must always work on, they are a spot of constant improvement and refinement.
A student needs to have solid and meaningful Musicality. This is something that develops as the student matures, and as with fundamentals, is something that will need to continually improved and refined. Musicality can be learned through a variety of different ways, such as listening to virtuosos and studying the writings of musical legends. I prefer the student find their musicality through their own experimentations: learning by doing and finding their own musical voice. Another way that they can learn musicality is through the final aspect of my teaching: Community.
A student needs to have a community presence. Music is meant to be shared, is meant to be played by a group of people working towards a similar goal. Music is the ultimate team sport, and the best lessons are learned while rehearsing and performing music with others. I highly encourage my students to be engaged with orchestras, bands, quartets and trios, chamber ensembles – as many groups as they have time for, as this is where music is truly learned.
My lessons are structured in an odd way to some – the lesson is nearly entirely student led. I believe that the student is their own best teacher, and I am merely there as a resource. This allows for the student to be very active in their learning, instead of being told to play something or listening to a teacher lecture for 30 minutes. Active and engaged learning leads to much better retention and often allow us to find and fix problems much faster.
Resume
Education
California State University, Northridge – Horn Performance MM 2025-2027
Dylan Hart, MM
Annie Bosler, DMA
Central Washington University – Horn Performance BM 2021-2025
Jeffrey Snedeker, DMA
Performance Experience
CSUN Symphony Orchestra – Northridge, California 2025-Present
CSUN Wind Ensemble – Northridge, California 2025-Present
Saratoga Orchestra – Whidbey Island, Washington 2015-2025
Central Washington Wind Ensemble – Ellensburg, Washington 2023-2025
Central Washington Symphony Orchestra – Ellensburg, Washington 2022-2024
P4 Horn Quartet – Ellensburg, Washington 2022-2024
Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra – Wenatchee, Washington 2023-2025
Central Washington Chamber Orchestra – Ellensburg, Washington 2022-2025
Edmonds High School – Edmonds, Washington 2022-2024
Central Washington Symphonic Winds Band 2021-2022
Seattle Collaborative Orchestra – Seattle, Washington 2018-2018
Teaching and Work Experience
Private Lesson teaching - Online studio of 4 students since 2024
Awards & Honors
Inspirational Musician – South Whidbey High School – 2017
1st Place Northwest Solo/Ensemble for Small Brass Ensemble - 2017
Tours
CWU Wind Ensemble – WASBE, Gwangju South Korea July 2024, 3rd Horn
Festivals
North West Horn Symposium - 2016,2018,2021-2025
International Horn Symposium - 2024
Volunteer Opportunities
Ellensburg High School – Section Coach – 2025
Primary Instrument Teachers
Dylan Skye Hart, MM 2025-Present
Annie Bosler, DMA 2025-Present
Elizabeth Linares Montero, MM 2025-Present
Jeffrey Snedeker, DMA 2021-2025
Sean Brown, MM 2015-2017
Likhuta - Vivid Dreams
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