Horvath has a painful hearing condition that makes it impossible for her to play in large ensembles. She has been a leader in the area of musicians’ health, and wrote the book “Playing (Less) Hurt: An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians.”

Horvath suffered a serious injury in her left ear in 2006, caused when sound from a stage monitor hit her during a pops concert. She took off for three months and isolated herself from sound. Eventually, she returned to the orchestra, wearing an earplug, but she was unable to perform in amplified concerts.

RTWT