Paul Blackstone is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in horn from the University of Texas, where he studies with Patrick Hughes. Paul is an active freelance horn player and teacher in the Austin metro area. Freelance performance engagements are numerous and include the Austin Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Dallas Wind Symphony. In February 2012, Paul played the first horn concerto by Richard Strauss with the University Orchestra of UT. In his free time, Paul loves to read fiction and history, listen to music, watch football and basketball, and hang with his two cats, Jack and Raphael. Paul holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied with William Scharnberg, and a master of music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Kaz Machala.