Guest Artist: Alexander Horton, double bass

About Alexander Horton: Alex Horton joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as assistant principal bass in 2023. Prior to joining the CSO, he served as principal bass of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for six years and was a member of the Grant Park Orchestra bass section for two summers.

Horton has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He spent summers attending the Aspen Music Festival and School and Brevard Music Center.

Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, Horton completed his bachelor's degree at Florida State University, where he studied with Melanie Punter, and completed one year of graduate study at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music as a student of Bruce Bransby before joining the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. A passionate educator, Horton serves on the faculty of Roosevelt University, coaches the bass section of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and maintains a private studio.

He was previously on the faculties of Auburn University, Samford University, the University of North Alabama, and Birmingham-Southern College.About Chunyang Yang: Born into a family of bassists, Chunyang Wang joined Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music in fall 2026 as assistant professor of the practice in double bass. He previously taught at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and James Madison University.

An acclaimed solo, orchestral, chamber, and contemporary musician, Wang expands the double bass's artistic possibilities through innovative techniques, original compositions, and imaginative transcriptions. He serves as principal bass with Orchestra Iowa and Arizona Opera and performs with Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra.

Wang has earned top honors in numerous national and international competitions. His Caprice for Solo Double Bass received the Bradetich Foundation competition's Best Contemporary Performance award.

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University.