While at the Florida Music Educator's Conference in early January I had a chance to sit down with composer Jim Stephenson and talk about his career, his thoughts about composing, and winning the 2017 Revelli Prize. 

Topics:

• Jim’s background as a trumpet player with the Naples Philharmonic and the decision he and his wife made to quit playing professionally and take the leap to become a professional composer.
• The opportunity to write for both band and orchestra and the connections that have helped Jim find success in both communities.
• Commissioning a work from Jim and how the personality of the performer and the needs of ensemble influence the final result.
• Jim’s advice for young composers and the early success that went mostly unnoticed but had a profound influence on his career.
• The story of Symphony No. 2 “Voices” that was written for and premiered the United States Marine Band and which won the National Band Association’s 2017 William D. Revelli Award.

Links:

• Stephenson Music
• 2017 William D. Revelli Composition Contest
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra Commission
• Stephenson: Symphony No. 2 “Voices”
• Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet

Biography:

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.. 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. Recent and upcoming premieres include the St. Louis and Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and Cabrillo Festival, as well as the US “President’s Own” Marine Band. Over 150 orchestras and bands play his music annually.

In his own words: "Since becoming a full-time composer in 2007, I have been fortunate to have had a steady stream of commissions and projects, keeping me always on task and, luckily, in demand. Stemming from my days as a professional trumpeter in the Naples (FL) Philharmonic, I have endeavored to be a “performer’s composer” – always remaining sensitive to the needs of those who are on stage making the music happen. Chicago Symphony clarinetist John Yeh has playfully called me “The Concerto King”, and I am happy to admit that my catalog does include a concerto, and sonata, for nearly every symphonic instrument, with more being added every year. A notable characteristic I try to infuse in my music is rhythmic momentum, as well as colorful scoring and orchestration, whether for instruments of the same timbre, or in mixed chamber settings. For me, this is the playground, and I absolutely love this part of the process. I will always cherish and hold in high esteem the musical giants of the past, in addition to adding my own modern sensitivities, so as to try to give my music a blend of familiarity and new discovery all at once. With this, I hope to lead audiences and performers on a journey of both anticipation and reward."