About Me
Stephen Squires leads a multi-faceted career as a conductor, professor, and performer. His current professional affiliations include Resident Conductor of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Fox Valley Orchestra, Music Director of the Millar Brass Ensemble, and Music Director of the Illinois Brass Band. He has guest conducted the Columbus (OH) Symphony, the Green Bay (WI) Symphony, the Rockford (IL) Symphony, the Syracuse (NY) Symphony, and the Chicago Composers Orchestra. He made a special appearance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducting Ives’ Holiday Symphony alongside Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas.
He has enjoyed many decades as a Professor of Conducting, currently approaching his twentieth year at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA). At CCPA, he teaches skill classes in the core curriculum (including conducting, and a special advanced class he has designed – Rhythm and Intonation.) Additionally, he conducts the CCPA Wind Ensemble, an ensemble devoted largely to the music of living composers. Intensely committed to the music of our time, he has conducted well over one hundred premieres of new music for orchestra and wind ensemble.
Stephen’s educational background includes the Preparatory Department of the Eastman School of Music, an undergraduate degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music, and a graduate degree in Trumpet Performance and Instrumental Conducting from California State University at Northridge. Additional conducting study was with Daniel Lewis, Maurice Abravanel, Helmuth Rilling, and Kenneth Kielser.
Mr. Squires remains active in performance as a freelance trumpeter and recital accompanist.