Michael Dale Clevenger, a renowned French horn player from Chattanooga, died Jan. 5 from complications of Waldenstrom's disease.
Mr. Clevenger was born on July 2, 1940 in Chattanooga. Sources say he began playing trumpet at age 11 and switched to horn at age 13. Mr. Clevenger's father was president of the Chattanooga Opera Association, and he was exposed to live orchestral music at an early age.
Mr. Clevenger attended Chattanooga High School when the band program was under the leadership of Richard Casavant.
Mr.
Clevenger was known for playing principal horn with the Chicago Symphony for 47 years, from 1966-2013. He was described as performing with "risk, precision, expression, sensitivity and a contagious enthusiasm - all of which moved his listeners and students to think of music as a living, breathing and richly human activity."