Michael Hettwer

Michael Hettwer has been a freelance horn player in the Pacific Northwest for 35 years. He is principal horn with the Portland Opera Orchestra and Third Horn with the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra. He also frequently plays with the Oregon Symphony and Eugene Symphony orchestras. 

Michael serves as orchestra manager for Portland Opera and is orchestra contractor for Portland’s Best of Broadway series, Orpheus PDX and numerous traveling shows. Recent engagements include The Who and The Eagles. He has performed with numerous traveling big name tours including Weird Al Yankovic, The Moody Blues and Mannheim Steamroller and has played with dozens of national Broadway tours including The Lion King, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins.

He has been professor of horn at Willamette University since 1997. He is also professor of horn at Linfield and Pacific Universities. 

Michael has recently retired after 30 years teaching music in public schools. His wife, Kami, is an elementary music educator and is also the executive director for the Salem Youth Symphony. Together they have three adult children who are all professional musicians.