Horn – Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Caitlyn Smith Franklin

Caitlyn Smith Franklin is acting Fourth Horn of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for the 2024/25 season. Previously a busy freelancer in the San Francisco Bay Area, Caitlyn appeared in the pit regularly as a frequent substitute with the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet, including a one-year contract as Fourth Horn with the San Francisco Ballet for the 2022/23 season, and has performed extensively and toured nationally and internationally as an extra with the San Francisco Symphony.

Alexander Kienle

A native of Portland, Oregon, Alexander Kienle has performed as the Assistant Principal/Utility French horn at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra since 2014. Kienle’s musical adventure started at age five, banging toy bells at a Montessori school, and he began studying piano at six.

Kevin Haseltine

Kevin Haseltine, from Houston, joined the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as fourth horn player in 2015. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music in 2014, as a student of Gail Williams and Jon Boen.

Yousef Assi

Joe Assi is third horn of the Dallas Symphony, and Principal Horn of the Breckenridge Music Festival. He has held the post of Principal Horn with the Sarasota Orchestra, the Palestine National Orchestra and Verbier Chamber Orchestra.

Haley Hoops

Haley Hoops has been the Second Horn player of the Dallas Symphony since 1999.

Associate Principal + Acting Principal Horn_Linda VanSickle Chair_Dallas Symphony

David Heyde

David Heyde serves as Associate Principal Horn in the Linda VanSickle Associate Principal Horn Chair with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Before coming to Dallas in 2003, Heyde served for two seasons as the Principal Horn of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra.