Western Hornist

The Western Illinois Horn Festival - 2010
April 18, 2010

Dale Clevenger, Principal Hornist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1966, was the featured Guest Artist at the Western Illinois Horn Festival on April 18, 2010. Participants had an opportunity to participate in a Master Class with Mr. Clevenger and perform in the Festival Horn Choir – conducted by Dale Clevenger.

  • Mr. Clevenger's biographer and Chicago hornist Margaret Tung was featured in a panel discussion of his life; work with Chicago Symphony, recordings, and teaching with Mr. Clevenger and John Schrekengost .
  • Other guests at the Festival included the following: Dr. Tina Su, Horn Professor, University of Northern Iowa. Dr Su performed the World Premiere of a new work for horn and piano by Peter Askim.
  • Thomas Jöstlein, Horn Professor at the University of Illinois, performed Randall Faust's Call and Response for Solo Horn.
  • Lee Kessinger, Horn Professor, Augustana College performed several works on the alphorn with Prof. Jöstlein and Amber Dean.
  • John Schreckengost, Horn Professor at Valparaiso University performed Ryan Nowlin's Elegy (in memory of Herbert Spencer).

Other features included performances by the Macomb High School Horn Quartet, the University of Northern Iowa Horn Ensemble, the Western Illinois University Horn Ensemble, and soloists from Western Illinois University and throughout the region. The Festival's morning session included an opportunity to have an online lesson on orchestral excerpts with Mr. Clevenger via the website: orchestralconservatory.com also, the final concert included a special performance by Dale Clevenger—who also conducted the Festival Horn Choir.

Dale Clevenger performing with pianist Wei-Chun Bernadette Lo
Dale Clevenger and members of the 2010 Festival Horn Ensemble
Macomb High School Hornists: Katie Ericson, Joey Rabchuk, Jeff Mooney, and Matt Chenoweth
WIU HORNISTS with Dale Clevenger