Dr. Robert Fant is Associate Professor of Horn at the CUHK, Shenzhen Conservatory of Music. Originally from the USA, he has studied and performed across the world with many of the masters of horn. This has created a world perspective and knowledge that Dr. Fant wishes to pass onto students. Dr. Fant has held positions on every continent (except Antarctica!), recorded films (SONY, BBC, Apple TV, Netflix), recordings (DG, Naxos, BBC), and is in demand as an adjudicator internationally. His recording work has led to 4 GRAMMY wins and 5 nominations. During the summer, Fant is the horn faculty for Rocky Ridge Music Center in Colorado. Previous positions include Visiting Professor of Horn at TN Tech School of Music and the University of Memphis. Dr. Fant has held Assistant Professor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Professor of Horn at MidWestern State University in Texas, Trinity College London guest lecturer, Royal Northern College of Music as ABRSM International Visiting Scholar, University of Wisconsin and teaching assistant, and CCM–University of Cincinnati as a teaching assistant.
During Dr. Fant’s performance career he has grown his passion for teaching. Fant’s studio strives to inspire and work to reach artistic goals. Dr. Fant has guided students to graduate programs (e.g. Juilliard, RAM, Paris), orchestral positions across the world, and many are professors at conservatoires/universities. Dr. Fant has many students who have won international competitions (e.g. IWBC, IHCA, MSIF). Helping discover new artists is a passion of Dr. Fant. He spends summers teaching children in India, Asia, and South America.
Dr. Fant has held principal horn with the London Chamber Orchestra (mozart), Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, and section positions with the Philharmonie der Nationes (Berlin), Auckland Philharmonia, Verbier Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of India. Fant played as a guest with orchestras e.g. Halle, BBC Philharmonic, NCPA (Beijing), Taiwan National, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Thuringer Symponiker, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Staatstheater Hannover, Boston Pops, IRIS, Boston, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Dallas Wind, Alabama, Spokane, Memphis, Arkansas , OKC Philharmonic, Portland, Royal Ballet (UK), Opera North (UK), RSNO (Scotland), Bavarian Orchestra (Germany), and an apprenticeship with the Vienna Philharmonic (Attergau Academy) under Wolfgang Tombock. These experiences have led to collaborations with conductors (e.g.Levine,Dudamel,Gergiev,Dutoit), soloists (e.g.Midori,Vengerov,Argerich,Bell,Shaham,Ax,MA,Wang,Lang), artists, and an admiration of how music can change the world.
Dr. Fant has a regular schedule as a recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician. His Carnegie Hall solo debut was a success in late 2024. He is the recent second prize winner of the American Prize Instrumental Soloist category (2024). As a former finalist (and the only hornist to that point) for the Gold-Medal Competition, Robert has performed as a soloist/recitalist with increased frequency. He is also the winner of the Gold Music Award and the Charleston Intentional competition. He is a past finalist for Haverhill-International-Soloist-Competition, Carnegie-Hall ACJW Fellowship, WAMSO competition, and the ASTRAL competition. Recent recitals include Steinway Artist, Wigmore Hall, and the Aspen Music Festival Recital series. He can be heard with DG, NAXOS, BBC Radio, BBC TV, Apple TV, Netflix, REAL TV, Medici, UM Records, Reference Recordings, Klavier Records, and NPR Radio. Dr. Fant has been a part of a Lesser Foundation Award, International Horn Society Award, and a Qantas Award. He is also the only horn on the SONY-Film “The Tattooist” and was multi-tracked to create the score. He has soloed with orchestras and premiered many works. E.g. solo performances with North State Symphony, Denton Orchestra, National Orchestra, Kolkata Symphony Orchestra, North England Institute Orchestra, and chamber premieres at Wigmore, Cadogan Hall, and with Eric Ewazen in the USA. He is an adjudicator of horn competitions and a member of the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest horn choir recorded (Belgium 2019).
Dr. Fant’s BMus is from University of Michigan, MMus from CCM, Diploma from NEC, and DMA from University of Wisconsin. Mentors and pedagogues include Wekre, Gardner, Hatfield, Ashby, Betts, Greer, Bloom, Hoetzel, Leuba, Behm, and Stout. His passion is to pass his experiences from across the world to his studio at the university.
Dr. Fant is a KHS XO Artist, Clinician, and Education Specialist.