Jesse Clevenger

Jesse Clevenger is a Lecturer at Stanford University maintaining a horn studio and the Acting Third/Assistant Principal Horn of the San Francisco Symphony, a position he assumed in 2023 after seven seasons as Interim Assistant Principal Horn with the Houston Symphony. He has performed as guest principal with the Baltimore, San Jose, and Toledo Symphonies and as guest artist with the Chicago Symphony, Dallas Symphony, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.

His education includes:

• Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance from Indiana University
• Master of Music from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music

Clevenger specializes in horn performance with deep expertise in historical performance practice of the natural horn. His research explores hand-horn techniques and tonal characteristics to understand the instrument's evolution from Bach to Britten, complemented by scholarly engagement with Renaissance music and art. This historical perspective directly informs his contemporary orchestral interpretations and pedagogical approach.

As an educator, he maintains a private horn studio at Stanford University, conducts masterclasses nationwide, and teaches during the Sun Valley Music Festival summers. His teaching integrates active orchestral experience with historical performance insights.

Clevenger performs with the San Francisco Symphony and festival ensembles including Tanglewood, Spoleto, and Bravo! Vail. He recently debuted as concerto soloist in Toluca, México performing Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante and will perform Britten's Serenade for Horn, Tenor, and Strings with the Vallejo Symphony in fall 2025.