Jay Craven has been active for many years in the musical life of Chattanooga. He took his first clarinet lesson in 1941 while in grade school and began his professional music career in the 1944 at the age of 14 during WWII. He performed with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra for the first time in the fall of 1948. Although he officially retired from the orchestra 50 years later in 1998, he still performs with the CSO on occasions. Recently, he was honored by the orchestra on completing his 60th year. During the early 1950s, he organized and directed his own dance band which became very popular around the southeast. He remains an active professional musician performing with the Chattanooga Jazz Quartet, the Gold Circle Duo con Brio, the Chattanooga Music Club, and the MacDowell Music Club. He is also the founder the Chattanooga Clarinet Choir and the Chattanooga Clarinet Society.
A graduate of the University of Chattanooga (UTC), Craven received his Masters from the VanderCook College of Music. He did post-graduate work at Southern Massachusetts University, Memphis State University, and the Kodaly Institute in Hungary. He became involved in Music Education in the 1950s and taught music for 11 years before becoming Supervisor of Music for the Chattanooga Public Schools, a position he held for 23 years. He served as conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra for two different terms, once from 1965 through 1966 and later from 1988-1992. He served as President of the Tennessee Music Educators and member of the National MENC President’s Council in the 1970’s.
Craven is a life member of East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association and of the East Tennessee Vocal Association. He served as President of ETVA and was Orchestra chairman for ETSBOA. He served as President and a member of the board of Tennessee Music Education Association and has been active with MENC at the regional and national levels.
He has received many other honors and awards, including The Tennessee Outstanding Achievement Award of 1998 presented by the Governor. in 1962, He was awarded the Junior Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Young Male Teacher of the Year” in Hamilton County.
On October 27, 2003, Memorial Health Care System honored Jay and his wife with the “2003 Humanitarian Award” to acknowledge their unique contributions to the community and their personal commitment to Memorial’s Mission to provide the Healing Ministry of Christ in health care for the total person. On November 11, 2005, the Tennessee Hospital Association awarded Mr. Craven the highest honor they bestow on an individual volunteer - the THA Award of Excellence for his work with music in the Memorial Health Care System Hospitals in Chattanooga.
Without question, Jay Craven has met or exceeded all requirements for this TMEA honor.