Cort Roberts

Hi there! I’m Cort — a professional french horn player, and dedicated educator based in NYC!

I love helping students of all levels build confidence, technique, and genuine enjoyment on the horn and trumpet. My teaching style is fun, patient, highly personalized, and prioritizes engagement before information— whether you’re picking up the horn for the first time, preparing for auditions, or looking to take your musicianship to a new level.

I perform regularly with several ensembles including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra, The Knights, and on several Broadway productions such as The Lion King and Sunset Boulevard. In 2023, I worked as Associate Principal/3rd Horn with the Auckland Philharmonia in New Zealand.

As an alum of Carnegie Hall’s prestigious Ensemble Connect program, I’ve spent years performing chamber music and creating interactive concerts in schools, community centers, incarceration facilities, and organizations supporting people with developmental disabilities. These experiences have shaped my teaching philosophy: music should be accessible, empowering, tailored to each individual’s voice and goals, and fun of course!

I currently teach students across NYC with the Harmony Program, and my own private studio. I love working with all levels, from beginner to advnaced profieciency. My teaching tends to focus on:

• Technique fundamentals & tone development

• Audition prep (youth orchestras, college, conservatory)

• Solo repertoire coaching

• Chamber/ensemble skills

• Creative Projects that use and build upon developing skills

• Confidence-building for returning adults

I completed my Bachelor's degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, and then moved to NYC to attend The Juilliard School for my master's degree, and I completed my Doctorate at Stony Brook University. 

Originally from Colorado, I’m also an outdoor enthusiast — hiking, biking, climbing, and basically anything with fresh air and a good view. I bring that same sense of curiosity and joy to my teaching.

I’d love to work with you — let’s build your sound, your confidence, and have some fun together!

For Teens, Adults, and Advanced Students

I teach with a clear, fundamentals-focused approach that emphasizes breath control, tone production, flexibility, and musicality. I tailor my approach to each individual student and their immediate needs and wishes, whether they are preparing for auditions or just want to strengthen technique and learn more about healthy brass playing. I also love helping students explore their creative side—designing projects that let them apply new skills in expressive, artistic ways so music-making starts right away, not “after they’ve learned everything.”

For Young and Beginner Students

With younger players, my teaching style is patient, encouraging, and rooted in fun. Through my experience with hundreds of elementary age students, I know that at this age, students are inherently creative and curious. I like to tap into this creativity by using games, fun exercises and metaphors, and familiar tunes to build healthy fundamentals while always keeping lessons engaging and fun. I support parents with practice tools to encourage their child's growth, and I help kids feel excited about the journey early on by incorporating small musical projects that let them make real music from the start. I love witnessing the "light bulb" moment students have when they start improving with a difficult skill, and using that skill to express themselves through music. 

Our body is our instrument, and the horn or trumpet is just an extension of how we use our body!

My teaching focuses on helping students use their bodies in the most efficient and relaxed way possible. By developing a natural connection to breath and support, players experience more ease, comfort, and freedom—allowing the horn to truly sing. This attention to breath extends beyond the instrument: when we become more in tune with our breathing, we cultivate greater calm, focus, and presence in all areas of life.