Ayo Derbyshire is an active freelancer in Northern Colorado, playing in a variety of chamber and orchestral settings. Ayo graduated in 2019 with a B.A in Music Performance at the Colorado State University School of Music, where he studied Horn Performance on a full scholarship with Dr. John McGuire. While studying at CSU, Ayo was Principal Horn of the CSU Symphony for all four years of his degree. He currently holds the 2nd Horn position in the Fort Collins Symphony, after playing with the orchestra as 4th Horn and as a substitute.
In 2017, Ayo was awarded 1st place in the Engelbert Schmid Horn Competition, presented by Siegfried’s Call. The competition was nation-wide for horn players aged 18-30, and Ayo was judged and selected by iconic horn players such as Phil Myers, William Vermeulen and Leelanee Sterrett. He was also awarded the Wendel Diebel Performance Award from the CSU School of Music, in recognition for achieving a high level of performances.
In the summers of 2017 and 2018, Ayo was a Fellow in the Texas Music Festival in Houston, playing different symphonic concerts each week while studying with Houston Symphony’s William VerMeulen and Rob Johnson. He has also played as a Fellow with the Hot Springs Music Festival and the Denver Young Artists Orchestra.
Ayo is available for hire for events and private lessons.
To inquire, please contact him directly at ayo@taom.com
