Jo Greenberg
Principal Horn

Started playing aged:
violin: 4, recorder: 6, piano: 7, horn: 11, double bass: 27

Training:
Guildhall School of Music and Drama BMus 1st Class, MMus + Post Graduate Diploma in Orchestral Training

Best and worst experience working for OOTS:
I did a wind chamber concert with David Campbell (principal clarinet) and other players from OOTS. Wonderful music and musicians but utterly exhausting - my lips and brain were knackered for days!

Why did you choose your instrument?
There was a general shortage of horns at secondary school and I was offered place on a trip to Switzerland if I took up the french horn or the tuba. As I'd be carrying the instrument on and off coaches there wasn't much contest.

Favourite composer(s):
Mahler, Brahms, Shostakovich, Bruckner (well, I am a horn player) and Britten.

Favourite piece of music:
to listen to - Rachmaninov's Symphony no2, to play - Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet and for sentimental reasons, Stravinsky's Firebird - I walked down the aisle to the finale played by friends.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Eating chocolate, involvement in church, walking in the countryside & exploring historic aspects of London (all best with friends).

If you weren't a musician, what would you like to be instead?
A classroom assistant, food/ theatre critic or rally car driver (...I've always fancied having a go..!)

What stands out as your best tour experience?
A trip to Bruges with the Philharmonia where I was booked to double in Beethoven 3. On arrival the conductor decided the hall wasn't big enough to warrant six horns so I ended up not having to play a note.

Do you have any pets?
Two fish - Marge & Lisa. (Three died and still need to be replaced!).

What is your favourite film/book?
Singing in the Rain.  I can also always re-read any Douglas Adams or Bill Bryson travel books but am reading Jim Wallis' "God's Politics" at the moment which is very interesting.

How do you deal with pre-concert nerves?
Chocolate. Which also works for sickness, sadness, celebrations etc.

What sort of music do you listen to when you're unwinding after a long day at work?
Dixie Chicks, Anastacia, Matt Redman, Classic fm.

Any bad musical experiences?
When I was seven I played the violin in a guests concert on holiday with no music. I really enjoyed the piece before me, then walked on stage and couldn't remember how my piece started. I had to just stand there until someone lowered the curtain. Aaaaaarrrrgh! Things haven't changed that much.