Described as ‘prolific’ and ‘impressive’, composer, orchestrator, and musician Tatum Jepson (b. 2004) is based out of Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he attends James Madison University and studies music composition with Dr. Jason Haney and Dr. Eric Guinivan.
As a composer, he has written works for acclaimed soloists internationally, and has had performances in the United States, and Hong Kong. His chamber works have been described as ‘creative and beautiful’ and his work for Oboe and Piano titled, Short n’ Suite was published by TUX Peoples Music out of Texas. His works for large ensemble have been best described as ‘magnificent’ and ‘marvelous’, and in particular, Jepson’s 2025 work, Paper Lanterns was a semi-finalist in the Morton Gould Young Composers Award Competition.
As an orchestrator and arranger, he has arranged stand tunes for the Patrick Henry High School Marching Patriots, and also orchestrated famous pieces from classical and film music by composers like Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Bernard Herrmann.
As a musician, he is an avid multi-instrumentalist, specializing in the Woodwind family, but he has also been recognized as a Bass Trombonist at the state level. He is principal alto saxophonist of the James Madison University Concert Band of which he leads the section and doubles on soprano saxophone. An accomplished jazz and commercial saxophone player player, Jepson has also played with acclaimed trumpeter John D’earth, and acted as a horn player, and arranger for groups in Virginia, notably, the psychedelic punk-indie-rock group Orange Culture, he can be heard on their 2021 release, OCCO.
“Tatum writes beautiful works, highly recommended!” – Trumpeter Jacob Boseley