James M. Stephenson

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]

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 Association Sousa/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]

• Cåraboo, an opera in one act (2023)

• Wooden Dimes (2022)
• Princess and the Pea (2025)

• A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, for solo cornet and brass band (2007); also arranged for solo trumpet and orchestra
• Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet "Rextreme" (2010)
• American Fanfare (2015)^{[note 1]}
• RiverField (2023)

• Legend of Sleepy Hollow, for orchestra and narrator (1996); also available for chamber orchestra and narrator, and concert band and narrator
• American Fanfare (1999); won the 1999 Florida Orchestra Fanfare Competition. Also arranged for brass band, wind ensemble, and grade 3 concert band
• Stars and Stripes Fanfare (arr. 2007); also available for concert band and trumpet ensemble
• Celestial Suite (2013)^{[note 2]}
• there are no words (2015); also available for chamber orchestra, concert band, and mixed chamber ensemble
• Taps (arr. 2016); also available for solo trombone and trombone ensemble, concert band, and cello ensemble
• CitySpeaks, for orchestra and spoken-word artist (2019)
• Symphony No. 3 (2019)
• Fanfare for Democracy (2021); also available for concert band^{[note 3]}
• Wooden Dimes: Ballet Suite (2022)
• Symphony No. 2: VOICES (2023)^{[note 4]}
• You have reached city limits (2024)

• Legend of Sleepy Hollow, for chamber orchestra and narrator (2004)^{[note 5]}
• Chamber Concerto for Orchestra (2009)
• Celebration Overture (2010)
• there are no words (2015)
• SCRAM!, for chamber orchestra (2022)^{[note 6][note 7]}
• Persephone, for 13-member chamber ensemble (2023)
• The Planets, adapted for chamber orchestra and SSA chorus (2024)^{[note 8]}

• Printemps (2004)^{[note 9]}
• 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)

• Concerto in D (Vivaldi/Bach, arr. Stephenson), for piccolo trumpet, strings, and continuo (2001)
• Concerto No. 1, for trumpet and 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 horn and orchestra (2012)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto No. 3 “Concerto for Hope,” for trumpet and orchestra (2016); also available for trumpet and wind ensemble^{[note 7]}
• Concerto Rhasody “The Arch,” for bass trombone and orchestra (2017); also available for bass trombone and wind ensemble
• Concerto for bass trombone and orchestra (2018)^{[note 7]}
• PILLARS: Concerto for low brass and orchestra (2018)^{[note 7]}

• 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]}

• Concerto for piano, trumpet, and strings (2007)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto for piano and orchestra (2021)

• Concerto Fantasie, for violin (2005)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto for Violin “Tributes” (2009)^{[note 7]}

• Concerto for cell phone (2006)

• Compose Yourself!, for full orchestra or 15-player chamber ensemble (2002)
• ROCOmotive, for chamber orchestra (2019)
• Once Upon a Symphony, an educational program for full orchestra or chamber ensemble (2021)

• American Fanfare (2006)^{[note 13]}
• Symphony No. 1 (2006)
• Interprid Promise (2012)
• Symphony No. 2: VOICES (2016); winner of the ABA Ostwald Award and the NBA William D. Revelli Memorial Composition Contest
• Celebration Overture (2018)
• Chorale in Blue (2018)
• In the Moment (2018)
• Requiem Dances (2018)
• Exhale! (2020)
• Voyages: Concerto for Brass Ensemble (2020)
• Eyes on the Bison (2021)
• Fanfare for Democracy (2021)
• Concerto for Wind Ensemble (2022)
• Lonesome Valley Folk Suite (2022)
• Hymn for US (2023)
• Sunburst Fanfare (2023)
• Symphony No. 4 (2023)
• Declaration (2024)
• Genesis (2024)
• RiverField (2024)^{[note 14]}

• Sonata No. 1, for trumpet and wind ensemble (2001)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto No. 1, for trumpet and wind ensemble (2003)^{[note 7]}
• Sonata Rhapsody “The Arch,” for bass trombone and wind ensemble (2009)^{[note 15]}
• Concerto Braziliano, for trombone and wind ensemble (2010)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet "Rextreme" (2010)^{[note 7]}
• Dodecafecta, for solo brass quintet and wind ensemble (2010)
• Sounds Awakened: Concerto for french horn and wind ensemble (2012)^{[note 7]}
• A Little R&R, for two solo trumpets and wind ensemble (2013)
• It's About Time, for two solo trumpets and wind ensemble (2013)
• Three Bones Concerto, for three solo trombones and wind ensemble (2013)^{[note 7]}
• Hanging by a Thread, for solo trumpet, solo tuba, and wind ensemble (2014)
• Vast and Curious, for French horn, tuba, and wind ensemble (2014)^{[note 7]}
• Spinning Wheel, for trumpet and wind ensemble (2015)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto Grosso, for flute, alto saxophone, bass trombone, and marimba with wind ensemble (2016)
• Concerto for Piccolo Trumpet with wind ensemble (2016)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto No. 3 “Concerto for Hope,” for trumpet and wind ensemble (2016)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto Rhasody “The Arch,” for bass trombone and wind ensemble (2017)

• Duels and Dances, for oboe and wind ensemble (2011)^{[note 7]}
• Concerto Grosso, for flute, alto saxophone, bass trombone, and marimba with wind ensemble (2016)
• Möbius Trip, for alto saxophone and wind ensemble (2017)
• Code of Conduct, for saxophone with wind ensemble (2022)^{[note 7]}

• Concerto Grosso, for flute, alto saxophone, bass trombone, and marimba with wind ensemble (2016)
• Perpetual Notion, for solo percussion and wind ensemble (2019)

• Unfrettered, for guitar and wind ensemble (2020)

• Concerto for cell phone (2006)

• Loop D Loop – adaptable (2018), for 5-part adaptable ensemble + optional percussion^{[note 16]}
• 2/2 Tango – adaptable (2020), for 5-part adaptable ensemble + optional percussion
• Fiesta! – adaptable (2020), for 2-part adaptable ensemble + optional percussion
• Holiday Carol Medley – adaptable (2020), for 5-part adaptable ensemble
• No Thing Can Die as Others Do – adaptable (2020), for 5-part adaptable ensemble
• Reflections – adaptable (2020), for 3-part adaptable ensemble
• Ubi Caritas – adaptable (2020), for 5-part adaptable ensemble + two solo instruments or voices
• May the Road Rise to Meet You – adaptable (2021), for flexible band, orchestra, or choir

• No Thing Can Die as Others Do, for SATB choir (2014)
• Cantata for the Unsung, for soprano, tenor, children's chorus, and orchestra (2016)
• Life Has Loveliness to Sell, for SAT chorus, concert band, and optional strings (2018)
• Peace on Earth, for youth choir and piano (2018)
• Working Together, for SATB chorus and concert band (2022)
• The Planets, adapted for chamber orchestra and SSA chorus (2024)^{[note 17]}

• Lawson, Mike (July 15, 2020). "Jim Stephenson: Composing His Future." SBO Magazine.
• Magalong, Alexander (December 2019). James Stephenson: Symphony #3 "VISIONS" - A Conductor's Literary Companion. (DMA Thesis). University of Miami.
• Miller, Jeffrey L. (Fall 2022). "An Analysis of James M. Stephenson's Symphony No. 2 - VOICES, with Commentary by the Composer." Journal of Band Research Vol. 58, Iss. 1.
• Peterson, Myron S. (2021). A Guide to the Performance of James M. Stephenson's Symphony No. 2: VOICES for Concert Band. (MM Thesis). Colorado State University.
• ROCO (February 21, 2019). "On unexpected journeys: a ROCOInsider Q&A with composer Jim Stephenson."
• The Violin Channel (April 14, 2020. "NEW MUSIC TUESDAY | Composer Jim Stephenson - 'ROCOmotive' | WORLD PREMIERE." The Violin Channel.
• Thomson, John (February/March 2023). "Composing Without Fear, An Interview with James Stephenson." The Instrumentalist.

• Official website