James Stephenson

James Stephenson

composer and arranger
239 290-8911

See where Stephenson's
music is being performed.

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Colors CD
c o l o r s

music of
James Stephenson

Trumpeter
Testimonials

Introducing "Dollar Downloads"

All proceeds benefit the Stephenson Music Scholarship Fund. Click for details.

C o m p o s e  Y o u r s e l f !

A 45-minute educational
experience for children

Click here to see a demo video of ComposeYourself!

For more information, contact the composer.

For Christmas

Check out Stephenson's arrangements of Christmas songs and medleys for orchestra

Listen to audio clips.

View the catalog. (pdf file)

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

headless horseman

A setting of Washington
Irving's famous tale.
For narrator and orchestra.
Duration: 20 minutes.

Listen to the themes of "Sleepy Hollow:"

ichabod

Listen to

"American Fanfare"

This popular patriotic piece is available for both orchestra and concert band

Listen to the USAF Band of Liberty play American Fanfare.

Gustavo Dudamel

Hot Clips

Watch Gustavo Dudamel, the newly appointed Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conduct Stephenson's "Fanfare and March." The performance took place in Venezuela in 2004.

Also, watch a 2007 performance of "Concerto for Cell Phone" on YouTube.

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Happening NOW
  • July 3 - "Festive Toccata for organ and brass" is premiered at the Boston Regional AGO conference.

    This new "Toccata" for organ and brass is premiered on July 3rd at the Regional AGO Conference in Boston, MA.

  • Stephenson's music is being played at two concerts (June 23rd & July 3rd) at the Concert Hall of the London Royal College of Music.

    "Bold, Blue and Bright"
    6:00 pm, Tuesday, June 23rd

    "Fanfare and March" in a brass concert
    5:00 pm, Friday, July 3rd

  • June 19 - "American Fanfare" opens the Hollywood Bowl 2009 Gala concert. Conducted by Thomas Wilkins.

    Additional summer 2009 performances of "American Fanfare"

    Grand Teton Music Festival, July 4th, Thomas Wilkins, conductor.

    Plano Symphony, July 4th, Hector Guzman, conductor.

    San Angelo Symphony, July 3rd, Hector Guzman, conductor.

  • June 13 - "Chamber Concerto" performance by Sunflower Music Festival, Topeka, KS. Conducted by Alex Klein.

    Click here
    to listen to a live performance.

  • June 8-13 - "Symphony No. 1 for Wind Ensemble" recorded by USAF Band of Liberty. Captain David Alpar, Commander.


6 Premieres in 6 Weeks
  • "Symphony No. 1 for Winds"

    NEC, Boston

    April 16, 2009

    "Symphony No. 1 for Wind Ensemble" was commissioned by the USAF Band of Liberty. The premiere was conducted by First Lieutenant David A. Alpar in Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

  • "Concerto for Trumpet (in one-movement format)"

    with Terry Everson, soloist

    April 16, 2009

    "Concerto for Trumpet" in one-movement format was premiered by the USAF Band of Liberty. First Lieutenant David A. Alpar conducted the Band of Liberty in Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory of Music. Trumpet soloist was Terry Everson.

  • "Rush!" for orchestra

    Great Falls. MT

    April 25, 2009

    This 7-minute new work for orchestra was written to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Great Falls Symphony. Gordon Johnson conducted the April 25th concert.

  • "Trio for Flute, Trumpet and Piano"

    Music Festival, Croatia

    May 9, 2009

    The premiere date of "Trio" was May 9, 2009, at the Croatian Music Festival in Zagreb. Ana Butkovic (flute), Andrew Balio (principal trumpet of the Baltimore Symphony) and Tamara Jurkic Sviben (piano) are soloists.

  • New work for trumpet & piano

    CSO principal trumpet: Chris Martin

    May 30, 2009

    This new work for trumpet and piano was premiered by Chris Martin, principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with Rebecca Wilt, piano, at the ITG/2009 conference in Harrisburg, PA, on May 30th.

  • New work for trumpet & piano

    Beijing trumpet soloist: Zhonghui Dai

    May 30, 2009

    This new work for trumpet and piano was also scheduled to be premiered at the ITG/2009 conference in Harrisburg, PA. The piece is written for Zhonghui Dai of the Beijing Conservatory who will be the soloist at the premiere with Gail Novak at the piano.

Additional Upcoming Premieres
  • "Brass Trio concerto"

    October, 2009

    Charlie Lea, trumpet, Erich Peterson, french horn, and Dan Mattson, trombone, will be featured in the premiere of this concerto for brass and orchestra. John Varineau conducts the Grand Rapids Symphony in this October, 2009, concert.

  • New arrangements for brass quintet and orchestra

    November 14, 2009

    These pieces will be premiered at a new Latin show for a Bozeman Symphony gala on November 14, 2009, conducted by Matthew Savery.

  • "Violin Concerto"

    2009

    This major work, to be premiered by Jennifer Frautschi, was commissioned by the Minnesota Commissioning Club.

    Past recipients of commissions have been such notables as Stephen Paulus, Sven-David Sandstrom, Steven Heitzeg, Jennifer Higdon and Libby Larsen. The premiere is to take place sometime after the beginning of the 2008-09 season.

    Click here---after PAUSING the background-music clips---to view Frautschi's recent performance of Stephenson's "Violin Fantasie."

Recent Premieres
  • "Remembering Our Fathers,"  commemorating the 200th anniversaries of the birth of Lincoln and Darwin and the death of Haydn

    February 13, 2009

    In a concert on February 13th, 2009, the Southern Illinois University Orchestra honored the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

    The program included the premiere of Stephenson's new work written for three female voices and orchestra. The work commemorates the 200th anniversaries of the birth of Lincoln and Charles Darwin and the death of Haydn. The program was conducted by Edward Benyas.

    Click here to listen to the music as played on February 13th by the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra.

  • "Concerto for Chamber Orchestra"

    January 14, 2009

    "Concerto for Chamber Orchestra" was premiered on January 14, 2009, at the St. Barts Music Festival in the Caribbean French West Indies. Click here to listen.

  • "Trio for trombone, piano and percussion"

    November, 2008

    "Trio for trombone, piano and percussion" was commissioned by David Begnoche. The premiere occurred in November, 2008.

  • "Solo for trumpet and concert band"

    August, 2008

    "Solo for trumpet and concert band" was commissioned by the Fischer/Long family. The premiere with the Spring Garden Concert Band was in August, 2008, with Chuck Long, trumpet soloist.

  • "Sextet" for trumpet, clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello and piano

    July 4, 2008

    "Sextet" was commissioned by the Salmagundi Ensemble (Laura Garwin, trumpet) as lead commissioning source with a gift from the Charles Schlueter foundation. The premiere occured at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London on July 4, 2008.

  • "NEXT-Calibur" for trumpet trio, strings and percussion

    June 3, 2008

    "NEXT-Calibur" was premiered at the International Trumpet Guild gathering in Banff on June 3, 2008. The performance, conducted by Stephenson, featured Nathaniel Mayfield, Paul Merkelo and Rex Richardson on baroque, classical and jazz trumpets, respectively. Click here to read Neville Young's review of the premiere.

  • "Movie Themes of the 70s" and an "Elton John Medley" for Jack Everly's "70s Show" premiere

    May 2-4, 2008

    Stephenson was engaged to work on the "70s show" May 2-4 premiere. The show is sponsored by the Indianapolis Symphonic Pops Consortium (SPC) along with conductor/arranger Jack Everly.

    Click here to link to the SPC site which contains a clip of "Liberace Plays Chopsticks" that Stephenson arranged for Everly's recent "Pops Goes Vegas" show.

  • SATB setting of "In the Garden" with solo soprano, piano and organ

    Palm Sunday, 2008

    "In the Garden" was commissioned by St. Dunstan Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA. Stephen L. Furches is organist and choirmaster, and the premiere is in memory of Charles R. "Charlie" Yates.

  • "Concertino and Fanfare for Orchestra."  Click here to listen to a clip.

    September 29, 2007

    Stephenson was commissioned to write a celebratory new work to open the Bozeman Symphony's 40th season on September 29, 2007. Bozeman's music director and conductor is Matthew Savery.

    While in Bozeman for the premiere event, Stephenson visited several schools to introduce students to the craft of composing. Stephenson was rewarded with a front-page picture in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Sept. 27, 2007).

    The caption reads as follows:

    James on the front page

    "Calling the Tune. Alicia Kreyser tries to get a glimpse of the musical score held by composer James Stephenson who visited Irving School's third-grade music classes Wednesday to introduce them to the music he wrote to accompany a new edition of the book 'Sleepy Hollow.' Stephenson also composed 'Concertino and Fanfare for Orchestra' which will premiere at the Bozeman Symphony on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. to kick off the symphony's 40th anniversary season."

  • "Cousins" for trumpet, saxophone and orchestra

    July 15, 2007

    Branford Marsalis (saxophone) and Rodney Mack (trumpet) engaged Stephenson to compose a new work for saxophone, trumpet and orchestra. The premiere of "Cousins" on July 15, 2007, was with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO) at the Interlochen Arts Camp, Jung Ho Pak conducting.Mack, Marsalis, Pak, StephensonMarsalis, Mack with WYSO

  • "Stars and Stripes Fanfare" for symphony

    July 4, 2007

    Stephenson was commissioned to write a spirited fanfare for the Houston Symphony to open the 4th of July program. Michael Krajewski conducted.

  • "Sonata for Euphonium and Piano"

    June 10 & 11, 2007

    Adam Frey premiered Stephenson's "Sonata for Euphonium and Piano" at the Euphonium "IEI 2007" Conference on June 10th - 11th, 2007. Stephenson was a featured composer at the conference held in Atlanta, GA.Stephenson and Frey

  • "Duo Fantastique" for two solo trumpets and concert band

    May 29, 2007

    Schlueter and Berlin The Coast Guard Band with trumpeters Charles Schlueter and Eric Berlin premiered Stephenson's "Duo Fantastique" at the ITG National Conference in Amherst, MA, on May 29th, 2007.

    Berlin, Stephenson, Schlueter and conductor

  • "Concerto for Trumpet, Piano and String Orchestra"

    February 3 & 4, 2007

    Leonard and Reese take a bowLisa Leonard, piano, and Marc Reese, trumpet, along with the Lynn University orchestra conducted by George Shram, premiered Stephenson's "Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and String Orchestra" at Boca Raton, FL, on February 3rd and 4th, 2007.

  • "Concerto "Braziliano" for Trombone". Click here to listen to the performance.

    January 31, 2007

    Haroz, Klein and StephensonAlex Klein (center) conducted the festival orchestra in the premiere of Stephenson's "Concerto "Braziliano" for Trombone" at the St. Barts Music Festival on January 31st. Nitzan Haroz (left), principal trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra, was the soloist.

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