Bill Camphouse

Bill Camphouse is engaged in music making with student, community-based and professional performing ensembles as a life-long pursuit and source of inspiration and enjoyment. At Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., Camphouse developed and led a comprehensive community college music program making a vital contribution to the cultural life of the community, and was designated Professor Emeritus on his retirement in 2003. He earned Bachelor and Masters Degrees in music education from the University of Illinois and was named a Morris Doctoral Fellow at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. His interest in composition and arranging has been ongoing throughout his career and has resulted in a number of commissioned works for concert band and orchestra. Many are based on Illinois inspired themes including “Bridges,” “A Lewis & Clark Celebration,” “The Fighting 99th” and “Of Timberland & Prairie.” He collaborated with the late Senator Paul Simon, author of “Freedom’s Champion: Elijah Lovejoy” to create “Let Every Man Remember: an Homage to Elijah Lovejoy” documenting the life and times of the 19th century abolitionist. The work for wind ensemble and narrator received the Illinois Phi Beta Mu outstanding Composition Award in 2004. Currently he performs with the Sangamon Valley Symphony Orchestra as principal trumpet, is a member of the Quincy Community Concert Band, is a published composer and serves as clinician and guest conductor at musical events throughout the Midwest. In addition, he is Village President of Perry, Ill., a member of the Pike County Looking for Lincoln Commission and is restoring his Civil War-era family home. He is married to fellow musician Kristine Camphouse. They are the parents of three healthy and happy children.