Jim grew up in Minneapolis & graduated from Minneapolis West HS in 1951. He received his BMME (Cum Laude) from the MacPhail College of Music (Minneapolis), his MMME equivalent degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and did graduate work at the University of MN-Duluth and the Eastman School of Music. While attending college Jim played in many jazz groups, besides directing his own band, and had the distinction of playing with the late jazz notables Don Ellis and Bud Brisbois. His trombone studies included work with the great Emory Remington of the Eastman School of Music, Eugene Bird of the Minneapolis College of Music and Steve Zellmer, principal trombonist of the Minnesota Orchestra.

He completed his graduate studies at UWS, UMD & The Eastman School of Music. He began his 35 year public school teaching career in Boyceville, WI, moving to Aurora, MN in 1959 where he met his wife of 42 years, Helen Rosandich. In 1967, Jim started his 23 years as Duluth Central High Schools band director. His concert bands and jazz ensembles received countless regional, state & national distinctions. He influenced the lives of thousands of young people as their teacher, role model, mentor and overall inspiration. Jim led by example, playing trombone in many groups, holding numerous offices & receiving national awards including 1987 NAJE Jazz Educator of the year, induction into MMEA Hall of Fame in 1995, the prestigous ASBDA Goldman Award in 2007. After retiring in 1990 he continued teaching, adjudicating and playing. More than anything Jim loved his family & especially enjoyed sitting back watching them have a good time. He was an avid fisherman & golfer and loved spending time at the cabin.

Mr. Stellmaker taught privately, adjudicated at District, Region, State and College Band and Jazz Festivals plus played in various community bands, jazz ensembles and brass ensembles. On occasions he substituted with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO) and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. He was principal trombonist and personnel manager with the DSSO for 18 years and a member of the Ice Capades Orchestra for 23 years including accompanying Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Dinah Shore, Doc Severinsen, Tom Jones, Sonny and Cher, Gisselle McKenzie, Dave Brubeck and others. Jim also either played in or conducted bands in such musicals as Music Man, My Fair Lady, George M. Cohen, On A Clear Day, South Pacific and Anything Goes.

In his 23 years at Central High School, the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble received superior ratings from every judge at all District, Regional and State music contests in addition to festivals held in St. Louis, Orlando and Chicago. The Jazz Ensemble received “Outstanding Band” awards at jazz festivals held in St. Louis, Orlando, Chicago, Bemidji, Duluth, Minneapolis and Eau Claire. The Jazz Ensemble had the distinction of receiving the top honor in the class A Division of the Eau Claire Jazz Festival the last five years it entered.

The Central High School Bands have performed at the MN Music Educators Convention (MMEA) Convention, the national American School Band Directors’ Association (ASBDA) Convention, the World Curling Championship opening and closing ceremonies that were televised around the world via Canadian television in addition to numerous events of distinction. The band played premiere performances of compositions by Jim Curnow and Les Hooper and performed with guest artists Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, Ed Shaughnessy, Bill Tole, Thom Mason, Steve Houghton and Bob Kase. The Jazz Ensemble was also selected as one of eight bands in the United States to be placed on the National Association of Jazz Educators (NAJE) Project IV recording.

Mr. Stellmaker received the NAJE Educator of the Year award for Minnesota in 1987, was inducted into the Minnesota Music Educators Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the distinguished National Edwin Franko Goldman Award presented by ASBDA in 2007. He was the treasurer for the MN Chapter of ASBDA and served as chair for the National Organizing Committee and the Building the Organization Committee for the national ASBDA. In 2002, Mr. Stellmaker was a co-chair for the national ASBDA convention held in Duluth, MN.

A product of the rich cultural life of Chicago, composer-conductor Mark Camphouse was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1954. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music from Northwestern University, where he studied conducting with John P. Paynter, composition with Alan Stout, and trumpet with the late Vincent Cichowicz. A scholarship from the prestigious Civic Orchestra of Chicago (Training Orchestra of the Chicago Symphony) enabled Camphouse to study trumpet privately for two years with legendary Chicago Symphony Principal Trumpet Emeritus, Adolph Herseth.

Camphouse began composing at an early age, with the Colorado Philharmonic premiering his First Symphony when he was 17. His works for wind band (Alfred, Kjos, Southern, and TRN Music Companies) have received widespread critical acclaim and are performed widely in the U.S. and abroad. Many may be heard on the Albany, Citadel, and Summit labels.

Camphouse has served as a guest conductor, lecturer and clinician in 40 states, Canada and Europe. He was elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association in 1999 and has served as coordinator of the National Band Association Young Composer Mentor Project since 2000. He conceived and edits the unique multi-volume book series for GIA, Composers on Composing for Band.

Camphouse is Professor of Music at George Mason University, where he conducts the wind symphony and teaches courses in conducting and composition.

We have asked composer Mark Camphouse to write a piece for the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra in honor of Jim Stellmaker, a long time member of the TPWO. Our plans are to premiere the work this spring at our June 2 concert.

We need your contribution to finish up this project. I can’t think of a better way to honor Jim, his accomplishments and his tireless efforts to the Twin Ports community.

We have established three levels of commitments:

Commission Supporter $25 - $99

Commission Partner $100 - $199
Your name listed on the conductor’s score

Commission Associate $200 and above
Your name listed on the conductor’s score and you also receive an autographed copy of the score signed by Mark Camphouse.

Participating donors can either mail a check to

TPWO
231 Humanities
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN 55812

or by clicking the donate button below.

We are confident that this composition will be a very important tribute to Jim Stellmaker. If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Mark Whitlock.