Chattanooga Clarinet Choir

The Chattanooga Clarinet Choir is a unique ensemble on the Chattanooga music scene. It was founded by Jay Craven, former principal clarinetist with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, in July 1998 after his retirement from the CSOA. Its purpose is to provide a venue for clarinetists to perform together as an ensemble. It is strictly a volunteer organization, and the only requirement for membership is that the players be comptetent on their instrument. Present membership runs the gauntlet from professional players in the symphony and surrounding colleges, to a physician, a lawyer, public school classroom teachers, college students, office and service employees, housewives, and retirees.

The Clarinet Choir is just that - a choir of clarinet "voices". There are 6 different kinds of clarinets, ranging from the tiny high-pitched Eb, to the regular Bb, the Eb Alto, the Bb Bass, the Eb Contra-Alto, and finally, the huge Bb Contra-Bass. The overall sound is much like hearing a reed organ. The repertoire ranges from pre-Bach to Jazz, from transcriptions of the masters to original compositions for the Clarinet Choir.

Information on membership and/or performance availability can be obtained by contacting Mr. Jay Craven at either (423)892-5476 or by e-mail: clarj@comcast.net

Click on the following "thumbnail" picture of the Chattanooga Clarinet Choir to view a larger picture of their group!

The music the Clarinet Choir performs ranges from Classical to Jazz to Spiritural. Click here to see a Sample Program from one of their concerts.

The Chattanooga Clarinet Choir is now a member of The Allied Arts of Chattanooga!! Click on this Allied Arts icon to link to their Website and see what is going on in the Arts around Chattanooga!!

Our Members


E-Flat Clarinet
The E-Flat Clarinet is often called the "Baby Clarinet". It sounds very bright like the piccolo flute.

The following member of the Clarinet Choir plays E-Flat Clarinet:

Nikolasa Tejero
Megan Merciers


B-Flat Clarinet
The B-Flat Clarinet, or Soprano Clarinet, is the most commonly used instrument in the Clarinet Family. It has almost 4 octaves of tone range.

The following members of the Clarinet Choir play the B-Flat Clarinet:

Debbie Chapman Booker T. Scruggs
Beth Gray Jackie Shellabarger
Pat Holcomb Shannon Smitherman
Julie Ivester Arlene Sneed
Pauline Martin Diane Sullivan
Cindy McCashin Nikolasa Tejero
Megan Merciers Lesa Thomas
Larry Nagle Steve Tonkinson,
Concertmaster


Alto Clarinet
The Alto Clarinet is pitched in E-Flat and sounds 1 octave lower than the baby E-Flat Clarinet.

The following members of the Clarinet Choir play the Alto Clarinet:

Steve Barrett
Jim Pennington



Bass Clarinet
The Bass Clarinet is pitched in B-Flat, one octave below the Soprano B-Flat Clarinet.

The following members of the Clarinet Choir play the Bass Clarinet:

Virginia Andrews Roger Thomas
Elizabeth Ross Diane Van Aman


Contra-Alto Clarinet
The Contra-Alto Clarinet is pitched in E-Flat and sounds one octave lower than the Alto Clarinet. It has a lower sound than the Bass Clarinet

The following members of the Clarinet Choir play the Contra-Alto Clarinet:

Jim Pennington


Contra-Bass Clarinet
The Contra-Bass Clarinet is pitched in B-Flat and sounds 1 octave below the Bass Clarinet.

The following members of the Clarinet Choir play the Contra-Bass Clarinet:

Jim Pennington