James M. Stephenson (born February 4, 1969), also known as Jim Stephenson, is an American composer known for his versatility in writing contemporary classical music. His catalog spans across ensembles, with a significant number of works written for large ensembles (orchestra, opera, ballet, brass band, wind ensemble, and chorus) as well as chamber music and solo works. In addition to his career as a composer, Stephenson is also active as an arranger and conductor.
James M. Stephenson was born in Joliet, Illinois, began playing trumpet at the age of 9. He stayed in the Midwest and attended the Interlochen Arts Academy until college, where he attended the New England Conservatory of Music, for a degree in trumpet performance. At NEC, his teachers were Charles Schlueter, Gilbert Johnson, and John Lindenau.[1] Following graduation in 1990, Stephenson joined the trumpet section of the Naples Philharmonic, a position he held for 17 seasons.
As a member of the Naples Philharmonic Brass Quintet, he volunteered his time to begin arranging works for the groups. The Naples Philharmonic pops conductor, Erich Kunzel, took notice of this and asked Stephenson to arrange a work for orchestra.[2] This initial decision, led to a hobby of arranging that turned into composing original music, which resulted in another career over the course of 14 years. With the support of family, friends, and colleagues, Stephenson made a career transition in 2007, from full-time trumpet player to full-time composer and conductor.[3][4] With over 300 works in his catalog, he attributes his time as an orchestral player to have a strong influence on his voice as a composer, having a deep knowledge of how the instruments connect and work together.[3]
Stephenson lived in Naples, Florida from 1990 to 2007, where he met his wife in the Naples Philharmonic. In 2007, he moved with his wife Sally and four children, back to the Chicagoland area, where he currently resides.[5]
Career
Stephenson's catalog now includes concertos and sonatas for every instrument, earning him the title "The Concerto King," coined by Chicago Symphony principal clarinetist John Yeh.[6] Most of his new works were the results of commissions, allowing Stephenson to work with orchestras and performers around the country, on both his new works and existing arrangements.[5] His music has been performed by ensembles like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Pops, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, ROCO, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Joffrey Ballet, among others.[7][8]
Stephenson was Composer-in-Residence with the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestras for ten seasons, from 2010 to 2020.[8] He was a musical collaborator with the Grand Rapids Symphony during the 2020–2021 season, creating a concert for violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larissa Martinez.[8]
Symphony No. 2: "VOICES" received award recognition, having won the American Bandmasters AssociationSousa/Ostwald Award in 2018[9] and National Band Association William D. Revelli Memorial Composition Contest in 2017.[10] "Liquid Melancholy — Clarinet Music of James M Stephenson" (Cedille Records) recorded by John Bruce Yeh and Lake Forest Symphony was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Classical.[11]
Selected compositions
Opera
Cåraboo, an opera in one act (2023)
Ballet
Wooden Dimes (2022)
Princess and the Pea (2025)
Brass Band
A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, for solo cornet and brass band (2007); also arranged for solo trumpet and orchestra
The Storyteller, for trumpet and string orchestra (2013); also available for solo trumpet with wind ensemble, concert band, brass quintet, and original chamber version[note 10]
Gavotte Goes Up, for middle school string orchestra (2018)
Together (2018)
Concertos
Brass
Concerto in D (Vivaldi/Bach, arr. Stephenson), for piccolo trumpet, strings, and continuo (2001)
Concerto No. 1, for trumpetand orchestra (2003); also available for trumpet and wind ensemble[note 7]
Concerto for piano, trumpet, and strings (2007)[note 7]
La Grande Vitesse: A Triple Brass Concerto, for trumpet, French horn, and trombone with orchestra (2009)[note 7]
Sonata Rhapsody “The Arch,” for bass trombone and orchestra (2009); also available for bass trombone and wind ensemble[note 11]
Concerto Braziliano, for trombone and chamber orchestra (2010); also available for trombone and wind ensemble[note 7]
Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet "Rextreme" (2010); also available for trumpet and wind ensemble, trumpet and brass band[note 7]
Sounds Awakened: Concerto for french hornand orchestra (2012)[note 7]
Concerto No. 3 “Concerto for Hope,” for trumpetand orchestra (2016); also available for trumpet and wind ensemble[note 7]
Concerto Rhasody “The Arch,” for bass tromboneand orchestra (2017); also available for bass trombone and wind ensemble
Concerto for bass trombone and orchestra (2018)[note 7]
PILLARS: Concerto for low brassand orchestra (2018)[note 7]
Woodwinds
Cousins, for trumpet and saxophone with orchestra (2007)[note 7]
Concerto for Flute "Pandora's Box," for flute and orchestra (2010)[note 7]
Duels and Dances, for oboe and chamber orchestra (2011)[note 12][note 7]
Liquid Melancholy, for clarinet and orchestra (2011)[note 7]
Piano
Concerto for piano, trumpet, and strings (2007)[note 7]
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