“In its beginnings, music was merely chamber music, meant to be listened to in a small space by a small audience.” - Gustav Mahler.

Classical music isn’t a traditionally welcoming place - and we’re using the power of chamber music to change that.

Over the last hundred years, classical music has gone from being a mainstream art form to a specialized interest. Classical composers have gone from being international celebrities covered in the tabloids to names hardly known outside of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. As a society, we have built up financial, racial, and educational barriers for entry that have kept audiences and performers small and elite - and the Horizon Series is here to change that.

Founded by Co-Artistic Directors M. Isaac Ripple and Zachary West, the Horizon Series re-imagines chamber music excellence in the 21st century through performances that are accessible, diverse, and thematic. You don’t need to be a connoisseur to come to one of our concerts - we’re here to welcome you to this art form with open arms.

Our Vision

Accessible Performances

We understand that the traditional image of a classical performance - silent audience members in suits and gowns, very serious musicians in tuxedos - can be intimidating to new audience members. At a Horizon Series performance, both audience members and performers are encouraged to wear comfortable street clothes. Performers will introduce the pieces they’re about to play as well as interact with the patrons before, during, and after all shows. All audience members are most welcome to ask questions throughout the program and show their appreciation for the performers by applauding during and between movements!

Diversity

Diversity - whether it be in the makeup of the audience, performers, or the styles of music being played - is at the very core of the Horizon Series. We believe in a musical community that reflects the universality of our society and concert programs that feature both staples of the repertoire and music written today.

Classical music, with its rich history and timeless masterpieces, has traditionally been perceived as an exclusive and elite-minded art form, accessible only to a select few. However, embracing diversity in classical music is not just about social justice or inclusivity; it is about ensuring the art form's relevance and vitality in the years to come while continuing to revitalize and engage a broader audience.

Thematic Programming

Our concert programs are carefully organized around a central theme or idea. This principle - called Thematic Programming - plays a crucial role in engaging audiences and providing an enriching musical experience. We use music to tell stories and connect audiences to history, revealing the times and lives of the people who created and performed these works while providing opportunities for musicians and ensembles to present unique interpretations and connections between diverse repertoire, forging a deeper connection between the performers and the listeners.

Meet the Leaders of the Horizon Series

  • Zachary West

    Artistic Director, Co-Founder, Clarinetist

    Equally at home in both traditional and contemporary ensembles, clarinetist Zachary West has performed throughout the United States. A devoted chamber musician, he is co-founder of The Horizon Series and has been featured in intimate performances with members of the award-winning Belka and Cavani String Quartets, as well as with the orchestras of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Toronto.

    As an orchestral musician, he has performed under the baton of some of the world's finest conductors, including Jane Glover, Yoel Levi, JahJa Ling, and Robert Spano. In the summer of 2023, Zachary was chosen as one of seven finalists for the ICA Orchestral Audition Competition at the 50th Anniversary International Clarinet Association festival in Denver, Colorado, recognizing those on the cusp of a burgeoning orchestral career.

    An alumnus of both the Sarasota and Aspen Music Festivals, Zachary received a Master of Music degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Additionally, he holds a Post-Graduate Certificate from the Interlochen Center for the Arts and serves as Assistant Principal and Eb Clarinet in the Capital Wind Symphony in Washington, D.C.

  • Michael Isaac Ripple

    Artistic Director, Co-Founder, Oboist

    Michael Isaac Ripple is the Artistic Director of The Horizon Series, a nonprofit chamber music series and summer festival. He is the Director of Chamber Music for the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. Isaac is an in-demand educator, chamber musician, and performer throughout the Mid South region, currently based in Memphis, Tennessee. Isaac serves as the Chair of the Business Committee for the International Double Reed Society.

    He serves as the oboe instructor for Bartlett City School and Collierville School District, and is the owner/operator of Grind City Reeds. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where he pursued his undergraduate degree in oboe performance as a student of Frank Rosenwein. He is also a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he was a student of Daniel Stolper. He was the founding oboist of Catharsis Winds, an international and national award winning wind quintet based in Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a Master of Music in oboe performance from the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and he is currently pursuing his doctoral degree oboe performance with an additional focus in composition as the student of Dr. Michelle Vigneau and Dr. Kamran Ince. Isaac performs on Yamaha oboes and exclusively uses Lomax Classic Humidipro cases and case covers for his instruments. He is also a regular contributing author to Band World Magazine.