Please join DYAO in congratulating YAO horn player, Colgan Berard, on winning the 2024 Chamber Concerto Competition! Colgan will have the chance to play his concerto with the full YAO ensemble at the upcoming UNCOMMON ECHOES concert. Get your tickets today and read more about Colgan below!
Colgan Berard began playing French Horn when he was 11 years old, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncles. He studied first with Brian Vance, principal horn of the Boise Philharmonic and later at Colorado Christian University (CCU) with the late Steve Simpson. He is currently studying at CCU with Mark Frederick. In high school, Colgan played with the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and later with the Canyon County Symphony. He also was part of the Idaho All-State Orchestra in 2020, the All-Northwest Orchestra in 2021, the Boise State Marching Honor Band in 2021, and was the first chair of the Idaho All-State Band in 2022. In 2021, Colgan was one of three winners of the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Concerto competition. Last year, he received third place in the International Grande Music Competition and performed at Merkin Hall, New York City. Colgan is majoring in music performance and composition at Colorado Christian University and is also working towards his conducting certificate. He is a member of the CCU Symphonic band under the direction of Mark Dorn and the Jazz Combo under the direction of Ron Bland.
