We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Beth Orr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mary Beth below.
Mary Beth , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?
On May 5 2018 I was T-boned on the driver side going through a stop sign on a rural road. I broke my C6 and C7 vertebrae, collapsed my lung, ruptured my spleen, lacerated my liver and kidney, sustained a head trauma resulting in a 3 day coma of which no one knew if I would wake up, and the worst of all….. bit entirely through my lower lip and lost my left front tooth. While this might seem the least of my injuries, being a professional French Hornist with a major orchestra, made this almost the worst possible injury I could have.
For my family, they just wanted me to wake up, which wasn’t clear was going to happen. They were in absolute hell for 3 days not knowing if I would become conscious again, and if I did, who would I be? Would I still be me? But for me, waking up was awakening to the reality, that though they might still see me, and recognize “me” in all my personality traits and appearance, what would I see? If I couldn’t play the horn again, would I truly be “me”? Would I feel like myself? Would I have to re-evaluate what that meant? Am I going to have to become a different person just to survive and convince myself I don’t hate every living moment of not being able to do what I love? BE what I love. Because that is what music is for me. It IS me. It is how experience love, and joy, and pain, and excitement; life in general. It isn’t what I do, it is literally who and what I am. Is that unhealthy? I don’t actually care. I didn’t then and I still don’t. It is just a reality I accepted a long time ago, and when I did, it allowed me to let go into my joy so completely I never looked back.
I have struggled over the last few years to write about and share my experience because it is legitimately hard as hell. But I felt so alone during the process and felt hungry for truly functional information about what was happening to me. And the fear about what might happen or not happen was at times, paralyzing and alienating. You see, I had just gotten tenure in my dream job, was booked and flourishing as a soloist, in an amazing marriage with beautiful family….I was in a space where I was literally in love with my life and artistically thriving. This accident not only meant a long recovery, but the possibility my career and identity was all gone. When dealing with scar tissue and nerve and muscle damage, there is no way to know how it will react in recovery no matter how determined and diligent you are. And that is a reality you simply have to accept. The next few months and consequent year involved cognitive and neurological therapies, oral and plastic surgeries, and re learning how to play the horn with a new mouth. That mouth and set up was also in constant transition due to the implant not technically being fully healed for a full year, yet I pushed to play sooner. My dentist went “off-roading” in terms of standard of care to allow me to practice and train before the permanent crown was ready. This included incredible bridge work, and composite teeth in healing rings. I did holistic alternative therapies to accelerate the healing of scar tissue in my lip. Within that year of recovery, I played almost a full season with the Grand Rapids Symphony, won a solo competition, and performed a full length recital.
Was this due to my determination? In some part, yes. But I also had an amazing team of supporters, both personal, professional, and medical helping me do everything that determination led me to. I will say I did choose my force of will over rational decisions and behaviors. Is that healthy or smart? Probably not, but when it came to this period in my life, it kept me sane, and gave me the strength and tenacity to trust my instincts and brought me back to the career I loved so much.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am actually terrible at talking about myself. Which is why I always include a bio someone writes for me. So for the boring details…. feel free to scroll down. But, if I could say anything about what I do, want to be known for, and why it would be simply this : I am always unexpected. How many people do you know play the french horn? And sing while they’re doing it? Or can make it sound like a folk instrument… and make folk feel classical, and then make her voice sound like a horn and then flips the switch again?
I am a classical/folk fusion artist trying to make acoustic and symphonic music relevant to all of us through story telling, fostering new music through authentic composers and commissions, and creating community engagement that unites through listening, honoring, and connecting our differences, to find connection. That’s what music can do. That’s when music becomes art.
I’m a southern girl that loves nature, animals, and my family and try to bring that into my creative projects. As a classical musician coming from a background steeped in mountain music from the Blue Ridge and Appalachia chains, I try to celebrate them with both my work in the Grand Rapids Symphony, and as a soloist working on projects with organizations like Vox Novus and Parma Recordings. Coming soon in 2024 will be a debut album with PARMA and a dance fusion project with Vox Novus all combining both my horn and voice, as well as the mediums of classical and folk music. A new commissioning project with an emphasis on performance that fosters community engagement is also in process. This will be focused on telling the stories of 3 women from different backgrounds that have made contributions previously lost by traditional history. The composers will reflect both the ethnic backgrounds and gender identities of these powerful figures.
(Mary Beth Orr is a passionate classical hornist and folk vocal artist intent on bringing connection through music, most recently a finalist for The American Prize in instrumental performance 2023. The chosen medium of her classical horn and solo voice combine with the rich and soulful traditional melodies of her Appalachian heritage, creating a poignant musical journey of the human spirit. Currently 3rd Horn of the Grand Rapids Symphony, she has also performed frequently with the Detroit Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and Breckenridge Music Festival, of which she is 2nd Horn. She has been a guest artist at the Interlochen Horn Institute, and faculty with the Charleston Horn Institute. She made her premier at the Spoleto Music Festival as a featured recital soloist with her mixed ensemble Femme Forte in 2017. After winning 2nd prize in the professional division at the International Horn Competition of America in 2013, she started exploring artistic opportunities as a soloist, placing 2nd in the Horn Division of the 2014 International Women’s Brass Conference Solo Competition. Upon returning to the IWBC in 2019 she was awarded 1st prize in the Professional Division for Horn. Most recently she premiered as guest soloist with the Grand Rapids Symphony on her own arrangement of “Stand up For Me” for voice, piano, horn and string orchestra at the 2021 Frederik Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series. Between 2020 and 2022 she was a multi prize winner of the Sound Espressivo International Music Competition, and 1st prize winner of the Golden Classical International Music Awards, American Protégé International Talent Competition, and the Charleston International Solo Competition 2021, where she was also voted most outstanding performance. As also a first prize winner of the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, she made her European premier at the Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Germany, August 2021. In May 2022 she premiered as a soloist at Carnegie Hall. As featured performer for Vox Novus’ Fifteen Minutes of Fame Project she traveled to New York City to perform and record fifteen one minute works commissioned specifically for her for this project, showcasing and fostering support for new music. Upcoming engagements include St. Augustine Music Festival, and a solo recital at International Horn Society’s 55th annual Symposium in Montreal.)
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My top priority is creating authenticity within classical music and drawing connection between unlikely mediums and genres. I grew up with a stereotype that classical music, or more accurately, symphonic instrumental music was stuffy, boring, out of touch, and elitist…. and truthfully, the way much of the symphonic/classical world performs this incredibly visceral and passionate music is exactly that…. out of touch and boring. I work to change that by incorporating movement, staging, lighting, and mixed mediums to bring my audience fully into the story, rather than holding it up on a “stand alone” pedestal. On the flip side is folk music and the historic performance practice of mountain music passed down through many generations. Some see this as music for the “common folk” and its approachable “porch” element indicative of no need for formal training or attention. This also can’t be further from the truth and has its place center stage in our finest concert halls with a spotlight on its virtuosity and brilliance. Both of these genres tell human stories. They are motivated by the same elements: God, Nature, Love, and Death. The both require supreme attention to our craft, emotional depth, and supreme vulnerability. These 2 forms of music helped make me who I am and are equal parts of me. One is a part of my heritage, and the other stole my heart and fascination which became my career path. I have experienced what it means to unite these 2 audiences through embracing all of what makes them both amazing, and created performance experiences that are immersive and exhilarating for the audience. Taking unlikely audiences on a personal journey together is absolutely what drives me. Connecting to them and then using art and story telling to connect them to each other brings me so much joy and fulfillment. It’s why I’ve broadened my mission to commissioning new works to tell the stories of those not previously recognized, through young and authentic voices not previously celebrated. While not easy, and frequently challenging, creating long-lasting engagement, feelings of love and respect, and connection in a world so divided, is EVERYTHING. And worth it.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
To be a creative is to be compelled to fulfill some sort of destiny. We are never truly satisfied and there is always doubt whether anything we do is good enough. Yet, we are compelled to keep going. It is exhausting, terrifying, and sometimes the pressure is paralyzing. A constant “Blessed Unrest” is the best phrase that comes to mind. Are we terminally unhappy?No! Of course not. But we never drink our own Kool Aid and always see every flaw in everything we create or perform.
Creatives have been working their craft and reaching toward some unrealistic idea of satisfaction that will pretty much never truly come since their calling found them. I think that is why I bristle at the comment “You are so talented.” or…”You are so lucky to be so talented”
I think the biggest thing I would love people to know is that talent is only potential. And there are so so so many incredible artists that are not where they are, or created what they have, without the extreme will power to sacrifice for their art, work their technique, and push themselves to commit to long and tedious process with no finish line in sight. It does not come from divine inspiration, or natural ability. It comes from the obsession, dedication, mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausting love of the medium that chose them. And I said that correctly. I do not feel I chose being a musician. It absolutely chose me and would not let me go. Some talent may get you started….but it absolutely will not take you anywhere unless your hustle for it. So when I compliment other artists and want to share my supreme admiration for them and their work, I comment on their hustle, their dedication to their craft, and the very clear evidence of their hard work. Talent isn’t who we are, it’s what we do with it…. that is the artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: maryborr@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryborr3rdhorn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MBOHorn
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryborr-horn-piano-voice/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marybethorr-horn?si=2F9hH59-L2k8aY7s
- Other: https://marybethorr.bandzoogle.com/press-kit
Image Credits
Karin Willman A La Carte Photography