Michael Winter joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as third horn in September 2012. He occupies the Elizabeth B. Storer chair. Prior to his appointment with the BSO, he was acting principal horn of the Buffalo Philharmonic and principal horn of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra for several seasons. He has also performed as guest principal horn with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Winter was born in Southern California and raised there by a musical family. He began his horn studies with his grandfather, the respected horn teacher Dr. James Winter, and later studied with Jim Thatcher and John Mason. He then moved to Boston to pursue a degree at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he worked with BSO members Richard Mackey and Richard Sebring. He is currently on the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music.