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James M. Stephenson

James M. Stephenson composer / arranger

Leading American orchestras, instrumentalists, and wind ensembles around the world have performed the music of Chicago based composer James M. Stephenson, both to critical acclaim and the delight of audiences. The Boston Herald raved about “straightforward, unabashedly beautiful sounds,” suggesting “Stephenson deserves to be heard again and again!” A formal sense of melody and tonality characterize his music, each embedded in a contemporary soundscape. These qualities, coupled with the composer’s keen ability to write to each occasion, have led to a steady stream of commissions and ongoing projects.

Most recently, Charles Vernon, Chicago Symphony bass trombonist, asked Stephenson to write a new concerto, a work to be premiered in their 2018/2019 season under the direction of Riccardo Muti. A second bass trombone concerto will receive its orchestral premiere with the St. Louis Symphony and soloist Gerry Pagano, in 2017-18. “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band commissioned a symphony (the composer’s second in this genre) and will give the work its premiere in 2016 at the prestigious Midwest Clinic. Additionally, Compose Yourself!, Stephenson’s landmark young-audience work has now been performed over 300 times since its creation in 2002, engaging children in New Zealand and Canada and across the U.S.

The Devil’s Tale (2013), a sequel to Stravinsky’s famous “Soldier’s Tale” has become a highlight of Stephenson’s extensive chamber music output, having already garnered much critical praise for its recent recording (“a most remarkable work” – Fanfare Magazine) and numerous performances at noteworthy venues such as Ravinia and Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.

James M. Stephenson came late to his full-time composing career, having performed 17 seasons as a trumpeter in the Naples Philharmonic in Florida. As such, the composer is largely self-taught, making his voice truly individual and his life’s work all the more remarkable. Colleagues and friends encouraged his earliest efforts and enthusiasm followed from all directions. As his catalog grew, so did his reputation. That catalog now boasts concertos and sonatas for nearly every instrument, earning him the moniker “The Concerto King” from Chicago Symphony clarinetist John Yeh. The vast majority of those compositions came through commissions by and for major symphony principal players, in Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Washington DC, St. Louis, Oregon, Milwaukee, and Dallas, among others. A major break came from the Minnesota Commissioning Club, which led to two works (violin concertos) receiving premieres in 2012—by Jennifer Frautschi with the Minnesota Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä and by Alex Kerr with the Rhode Island Philharmonic under Larry Rachleff. Other international soloists for whom Stephenson has composed include saxophonist Branford Marsalis and trumpeter Rex Richardson, whose concerto has been performed on five continents. With such prolific output, Stephenson’s music is well represented in recordings. Nearly all of his solo brass works (over 50) have been professionally recorded, and in total, his extensive catalog for all instruments can be heard on over 30 CDs.

James Stephenson is also a highly sought-after arranger and conductor, rounding out his constantly busy schedule. His arrangements have been performed/recorded/broadcast by virtually every major orchestra in the country, including the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, New York Pops and more. On the podium, Stephenson has led orchestras in Bozeman, Charleston, Ft. Myers, Modesto, and Wyoming, in addition to numerous concert bands. With the Lake Forest Symphony, near his Illinois home, he has not only conducted but also has served for six years as Composer-in-Residence. His conducting debut with the Chattanooga Symphony comes at their 2016 Holiday Concert.

Jim originally hails from the Greater Chicago area, as does his wife Sally. In 2007 the couple, along with their four children, returned to the region to pursue the life they now share.

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Fanfare for an Angel - James M. Stephenson

Fanfare for an Angel James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Fanfare for an Angel - Trumpet Ensemble Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Trompetenensemble Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen UPC: 888680976934 Trumpet Ensemble|Partitur + Stimmen||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Trompetenensemble|Serie/Series ...
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Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 814902
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Concerto for Cell Phone - Concert Band - James M. Stephenson
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Duration: 5:00 min
Difficulty: 4
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 168821
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2/2 Tango - James M. Stephenson

2/2 Tango James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: 2/2 Tango - Trumpet and Piano Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Trompete und Klavier Produkttyp / Product: Buch Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Buch UPC: 888680983581 Trumpet and Piano|Buch||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Trompete und Klavier|Serie/Series: Stephenson Music||Erscheinungsjahr: |Altern ...
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Difficulty: 4
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815207
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Sonata #2 for Trumpet and Piano - James M. Stephenson

Sonata #2 for Trumpet and Piano James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Sonata #2 for Trumpet and Piano Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Trompete und Klavier Produkttyp / Product: Buch Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Buch UPC: 888680982843 |Buch||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Trompete und Klavier|Serie/Series: Stephenson Music||Erscheinungsjahr: |Alternative Artikelnu ...
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Difficulty: 6
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815148
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Concerto For Bass Trombone - James M. Stephenson

Concerto For Bass Trombone James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Concerto For Bass Trombone - Bass Trombone and Orchestra - Piano Reduction Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Bass Trombone and Orchestra Produkttyp / Product: Klavierauszug Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Klavierauszug UPC: 888680980719 Bass Trombone and Orchestra - Piano Reduction|Klavierauszug||Herausgeber: Steph ...
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Difficulty: 6
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 814974
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Concerto #1 - James M. Stephenson

Concerto #1 James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Concerto #1 - Trumpet and Orchestra - Piano Reduction Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Trumpet and Orchestra Produkttyp / Product: Klavierauszug Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Klavierauszug UPC: 888680980641 Trumpet and Orchestra - Piano Reduction|Klavierauszug||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Trum ...
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Difficulty: 6
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 814967
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Cadenza - Arutunian Trumpet Concerto - James M. Stephenson
Titel / Title: Cadenza - Arutunian Trumpet Concerto Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Trompete Produkttyp / Product: Buch Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Buch UPC: 888680980368 |Buch||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Trompete|Serie/Series: Stephenson Music||Erscheinungsjahr: |Alternative Artikelnummer: |
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Duration: --:-- min
Difficulty: 4
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 814947
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American Fanfare - James M. Stephenson

American Fanfare James M. Stephenson

American Fanfare Concert Band / Blasorchester Difficulty: 5| Duration: 2:00 min,|
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Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Overture to a Winter Celebration (c/b) - Traditional / Arr. James M. Stephenson

Overture to a Winter Celebration (c/b) Traditional / Arr. James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Overture to a Winter Celebration (c/b)ISBN: EAN13: UPC: 674398227501 Herausgeber / Publisher: Alfred Music PublicationsProdukttyp / Product: Symphonic wind band Komponist / Composer: Stephenson; James M,
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Duration: 4:00 min
Difficulty: 4
Composer: Traditional
Arranger: James M. Stephenson
Article Nr: 165453
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Blue Nights - James M. Stephenson

Blue Nights James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Blue Nights - Tuba and Piano Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Tuba und Klavier Produkttyp / Product: Buch Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Buch Erscheinungsdatum / Date of Production: 2020 Tuba and Piano|Buch||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Tuba und Klavier|Serie/Series: Stephenson Music|Gegenwartsm ...
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Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815208
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Winter from The Four Seasons - Antonio Vivaldi / Arr. James M. Stephenson

Winter from The Four Seasons Antonio Vivaldi / Arr. James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Winter from The Four Seasons - Brass Quintet Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Blechbläserquintett Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen UPC: 888680983574 Brass Quintet|Partitur + Stimmen||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Blechbläserquintett|Serie/ ...
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Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Arranger: James M. Stephenson
Article Nr: 815206
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Wassail, Wassail, All Over The Tuba - James M. Stephenson
Titel / Title: Wassail, Wassail, All Over The Tuba - Solo Tuba in Brass Quintet Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Solo Tuba and Brass Quintet Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen UPC: 888680983567 Solo Tuba in Brass Quintet|Partitur + Stimmen||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|In ...
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Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815205
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Walk Slowly - James M. Stephenson

Walk Slowly James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Walk Slowly - Soprano and Piano Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Soprano and Piano Produkttyp / Product: Buch Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Buch UPC: 888680983550 Soprano and Piano|Buch||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Soprano and Piano|Serie/Series: Stephenson Music||Erscheinungsjahr: |Alternativ ...
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Difficulty: 4
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815204
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Vignettes - James M. Stephenson

Vignettes James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Vignettes - Trumpet Ensemble Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Trompetenensemble Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen UPC: 888680983543 Trumpet Ensemble|Partitur + Stimmen||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Trompetenensemble|Serie/Series: Stephenso ...
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Difficulty: 5
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815203
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Victory In C - James M. Stephenson

Victory In C James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Victory In C - Brass Quintet Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: Blechbläserquintett Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Partitur + Stimmen UPC: 888680983536 Brass Quintet|Partitur + Stimmen||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumentation: Blechbläserquintett|Serie/Series: Stephens ...
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Difficulty: 5
Composer: James M. Stephenson
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Article Nr: 815202
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Vast And Curious - James M. Stephenson

Vast And Curious James M. Stephenson

Titel / Title: Vast And Curious - French Horn, Tuba and Wind Ensemble - Score Herausgeber / Publisher: Stephenson Music Instrumentation: French Horn, Tuba and Wind Ensemble Produkttyp / Product: Partitur Serie / Series: Stephenson Music Produkttyp / Product: Partitur UPC: 888680983529 French Horn, Tuba and Wind Ensemble - Score|Partitur||Herausgeber: Stephenson Music|Instrumen ...
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Duration: --:-- min
Difficulty: 5
Composer: James M. Stephenson
Arranger: -
Article Nr: 815201
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Rev. 4.118 - Time: 89 ms | SQL: -1 ms