Composer-conductor Mark Camphouse is a native Chicagoan. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music from Northwestern University. He began composing at age 17, with the Colorado Philharmonic premiering his First Symphony. His 36 published works for wind band have received widespread critical acclaim and are performed frequently in the U.S. and abroad. He has served as a guest conductor, composer, lecturer, and clinician in 44 states, Canada, Europe, China, and Central America. He has co-authored six books with GIA Publications, served 22 years as founding coordinator of the National Band Association/U.S. Air Force Band Young Composer/Young Conductor Mentor Project, served five summer seasons as Music Director and Conductor of the New Mexico Music Festival at Taos Symphony Orchestra, and four years as Associate Director of the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts.
The 2021-22 academic year marked his 44th and final year of full-time teaching in higher education. Camphouse served for 16 of those years as Professor of Music and Director of Concert Bands at George Mason University. In 2002, he received an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s colleges and universities, “for demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and public service.” In 2022, he received the National Band Association Distinguished Service Award “in recognition of exemplary service to the NBA and tireless efforts on behalf of bands and band music.”
Camphouse has been married to Elizabeth (“Libby”) Curtis since 1982. They have twin daughters and 3 granddaughters. Mark and Libby live in Millville, Delaware near Bethany Beach and the Atlantic coast.