French Horn
Born in Philadelphia, Sophia Filippone is a performer, teacher, and a strong advocate for equity in the arts. Sophia commenced her higher education in French Horn Performance at the Mannes School of Music. After two years, she transferred to Manhattan School of Music to complete her Bachelor of Music degree. Both at MSM and Mannes, she had the privilege of studying under the tutelage of Michelle Baker.
During her undergraduate years, Sophia enjoyed working with her brass quintet, a two-time winner of the Fuchs Chamber Competition. Following the first competition, her brass quintet was given the opportunity to be mentees of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s chamber music program, where they were coached by Michael Powell. A year prior, Sophia was a soloist mentee of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and studied with Joseph Anderer.
In 2022, Sophia started working as a substitute horn with the Houston Symphony. At the same time, she worked toward her master’s degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where she studied under William VerMeulen. Amidst her busy academic and professional schedule, Sophia enjoyed contributing to her community there. She taught masterclasses, sectionals, and private lessons to middle and high school students in the Houston area. Through her work, she hopes to inspire future generations of musicians and create a more equitable arts environment.