Mary Knepper, an American horn player in the English Chamber Orchestra who gravitated to natural horn in the period-instrument Academy of Ancient Music, has died at the age of 63.
Trained at the Sibelius Academy and the Guildhall, she was one of the first women professionals on the horn circuit and one of the finest. After London, she played in the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and then reverted to first principles as first horn of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples and of the RAI radio orchestra.
In 2000, she returned to Arizona to care for ageing parents. The death notice is published here.
If you have fond memories of Mary, do post them below.
How very sad. Mary used to give me horn lessons at Junior Guildhall when Tony Halstead was unavailable. A charming lady, full of encouragement and enthusiasm for the struggling student,