Michael Winter

In January 2025, Michael Winter was appointed Associate Principal Horn of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Principal Horn of the Boston Pops. He holds the BSO's Margaret Andersen Congleton Chair. Winter joined the orchestra as third horn in 2012. Prior to his joining the BSO, he was acting principal horn of the Buffalo Philharmonic and principal horn of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra for several seasons. He performed as soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops in Schumann’s Konzertstück at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood. He has also performed as guest principal horn with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Winter was born in Southern California and raised in a musical family. He began his horn studies with his grandfather, the respected horn teacher Dr. James Winter, and later studied with Jim Thatcher and John Mason. He then moved to Boston to pursue a degree at New England Conservatory, where he worked with BSO members Richard Mackey and Richard Sebring. Winter is a graduate of New England Conservatory and was twice a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center.