When legendary composer John Williams, at 93 years old, was challenged to play the French horn, fans couldn’t help but wonder—was the Force strong with this one? Known for his iconic film scores, Williams is no stranger to orchestras, but picking up an instrument himself was a rare sight. As he gave it a shot, the moment was both humorous and heartwarming, proving that even a musical genius can have some fun outside his usual realm. Did he nail it? You’ll have to see for yourself!

John Williams Takes on the French Horn Challenge—Did the Force Guide Him?

The legendary John Williams, known for composing some of the most iconic movie scores of all time, was recently put to the test in an unexpected way—by being asked to play the French horn.

Renowned Berlin Philharmonic French horn player Sarah Willis, who has made it her mission to showcase the magic of the instrument, has a unique tradition: “Sarah’s Horn Challenge.” She’s had everyone from conductor Gustavo Dudamel to jazz icon Wynton Marsalis attempt to play a few notes on the notoriously tricky brass instrument.

This time, her latest participant was none other than John Williams himself. The composer, responsible for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter, has written legendary horn parts—but had never actually played the instrument.

In a pre-COVID recorded video, Williams took the challenge. So, did the Force guide him? Or was it more of a Jedi training session gone wrong? Fans will have to watch to see if the maestro was able to channel his inner brass section or if the French horn’s infamous difficulty proved too much—even for a musical genius.

Watch the full clip to see how the legendary composer fared in his brass instrument debut!