Kristina Mascher-Turner is a performing artist whose career spans continents, ensembles, and disciplines. Known for her radiant sound, expressive nuance, and fierce artistry, she is equally at home on the world’s concert stages, in intimate chamber music settings, and in the vibrant exchange of the teaching studio. A dual citizen of the USA and Luxembourg, Kristina is based in Brussels, where she continues her expansive international work as a soloist, ensemble player, and master clinician.
Ms. Mascher-Turner studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Bachelor’s degree) with Douglas Hill and the Hochschule für Musik „Hanns Eisler“ (post-graduate studies and Artist Diploma) with Prof. Kurt Palm. She also studied privately with Fergus McWilliam of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Former principal horn of the Brussels Philharmonic (Vlaams Radio Orkest), Kristina has held long-term positions with the Luxembourg Philharmonic, Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg, and the Odense Symfoniorkester in Denmark, and has toured extensively with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester under the batons of Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, and Kent Nagano. Her orchestral experience also includes collaborations with La Monnaie/De Munt, the Belgian National Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, among many others across Europe.
Since 2009, she has been a member of the renowned American Horn Quartet, with whom she has toured across six continents, recorded numerous acclaimed albums, and appeared as a featured artist at major international horn symposia. Chamber music forms a cornerstone of Kristina’s identity: she is also a core member of Luxembrass (formerly the award-winning Ni Ensemble), and formed the Virtuoso Horn Duo with her husband, composer and hornist Kerry Turner. Their albums—on the Naxos and MSR Classics labels—showcase a shared artistic chemistry that bridges virtuosic command with lyrical storytelling.
As a pedagogue, Kristina brings to her teaching the same attentiveness, passion, and creativity that define her performance life. She has given master classes and residencies in over 30 countries—from conservatories in Europe and Asia to institutions across North America, Australia, and South Africa. In 2022, she joined the Summit Brass and the artist faculty of the Rafael Méndez Brass Institute, further affirming her role as a respected mentor in the international brass community. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, deep listening, and the cultivation of each student’s individual voice. “Music,” she says, “is already inside us. Teaching is about creating the space and tools to let it emerge.” Her pedagogical vision, shaped by decades of experience and informed by her work in energy healing and meditation, focuses on body awareness, perceptual training, and joyful, deliberate practice.
Kristina’s commitment to service and leadership in the horn world is also significant. She served two terms as Vice President of the International Horn Society (2015–2021), was editor of its digital newsletter Horn and More, and continues to serve as an international juror and mentor to young artists. In recognition of her contributions to the global horn community, she received the International Horn Society’s prestigious Punto Award in 2022.
Her performance and teaching are infused with a love of language (she speaks five), travel, and human connection. Whether on stage or in a master class, Kristina’s artistry is grounded in the belief that music is a living language—one that tells stories, bridges cultures, and calls us to listen more deeply, both to one another and to ourselves.
When she is not performing or teaching, Kristina sings in a semi-professional vocal octet and is a certified Reiki master. She performs on a Ricco Kühn W393X triple horn.