Abby Black is the Principal Horn of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Prior to joining Lyric, she was a Horn Fellow at the New World Symphony and previously held positions with Central City Opera, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Axiom Brass, and Millar Brass.
Abby has performed with many of the nation’s leading ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Grant Park Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Chicago Opera Theater.
Her summer festival appearances include Peninsula Music Festival as guest Principal, Central City Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Brevard Music Center, Chautauqua Institution, and the National Music Festival.
While at New World Symphony, Abby co-founded Sisters in Sound, a digital platform dedicated to celebrating the works of women composers and expanding the brass canon through free arrangements and recordings.
In addition to her performance career, Abby has been deeply engaged in music education. Her past teaching experience includes serving as Winds and Brass Coach for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras’ Debut Orchestra and as Horn Instructor at The People’s Music School and Carthage College.
Abby earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, and her Master’s degree and Post-Master’s Certificate from DePaul University. She was also a Horn Fellow with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago under the baton of Ken-David Masur. Her primary teachers include Jim Smelser, Oto Carrillo, W. Peter Kurau, Daniel Gingrich, and Neil Kimel.