Helen Kotas Hirsch

Helen Kotas Hirsch (June 7, 1916 – December 15, 2000) was an American horn player who played principal horn in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She was the first woman wind principal musician in any major American orchestra.

Early life and education Kotas was born to Czech parents on June 7, 1916, and grew up in Brookfield, Illinois. Her musical studies began at age six, when she started studying piano. In high school, she initially played cornet before taking up the horn. In 1940 and 1941, Kotas played summer tours in Leopold Stokowski's All-American Youth Orchestra. James Chambers succeeded Kotas as third horn in Pittsburgh. In 1947, Philip Farkas returned to the orchestra as principal horn under conductor Artur Rodzinski. Rodzinski used a loophole in Kotas's contract to move her to another position in the horn section, and after sitting out, Kotas left the orchestra in 1948.

After leaving the Chicago Symphony, Kotas remained in Chicago. She played principal horn in the Grant Park Symphony from 1950 to 1958 and multiple positions with the horn section of the Chicago Lyric Opera orchestra from 1954 to 1965.

Kotas served as the treasurer of the Hyde Park Union Church and participated in the women's philanthropy organization.

Awards Pioneer Award, International Women's Brass Conference, 2012 (posthumous)