Finding Aid for Michael Cameron Music and Papers, ca. 1938-2019 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Kelda Habing and Nolan Vallier

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Collection Overview

Title: Michael Cameron Music and Papers, ca. 1938-2019

ID: 12/5/79

Primary Creator: Michael Cameron (1959-2022)

Extent: 11.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized into five series: Series 1. Educational Materials ( ca. 1977-2004), arranged by type (syllabi, listening lists, teaching plans, recruitment) and then chronologically; Series 2. Administrative (ca. 1993-2018), arranged by committee and then chronologically; Series 3: Performances, Research, and Service (ca. 1989-2019), arranged by type (programs and fliers, reviews, publications, recording contracts, professional organizations) and then chronologically; Series 4: Published and Original Music (ca. 1938-2014), arranged in five subseries and then alphabetically by composer's surname; Series 5: Sound Recordings, arranged in two sub-series of Cameron's personal recordings and course listening lists for MUS 437 and MUS 560; and Series 6: Personal Papers.

Date Acquired: 05/19/2021. More info below under Accruals.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of educational materials such as syllabi and listening lists, performance programs and fliers, correspondence, meeting minutes, music and scores, and audio recordings which were used by Michael Cameron during his time as a tenured faculty member and bassist in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's School of Music.

Biographical Note

Michael Cameron (1959-2022) was born in Utica, New York. A bassist, educator, and writer, Cameron graduated in 1981 from Indiana University with a Bachelor's of Music, and from the same institution in 1982 with a Master's of Music. While there, he studied with Murray Grodner, Barry Green, and Stuart Sankey. He began his teaching career at West Texas State University in 1982, before transitioning to Baylor University in 1983. In 1985, he joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's School of Music String Division as professor of double bass. During his time at the University of Illinois, he taught several classes (MUS 437 and MUS 560) in addition to his bass studio, served on many School of Music and university committees, and served several tenures as head of the string division. He served as principal bass both of the Sinfonia da Camera and of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra. Cameron played in the Ciosoni (Esperanto for "all sounds") trio alongside clarinetist Paul Martin Zonn and later Eric Mandat, and flutist Tim Lane. The group was known for its unusual instrumentation and the technical expertise of its members, performing interpretations of known works as well as works written for the trio.

Cameron published many articles with the Chicago Tribune, especially concert reviews, and with the American String Teachers Association and Bass World. He was a member of the International Society of Bassists. His performance history includes many world premieres and American premieres for bass, as well as works dedicated to or commissioned by him. His repertoire varied widely, and included works in both classical and modern styles. Cameron began the company BassScores.com which published works specifically for the double bass, many of which were arranged or edited by Cameron. Cameron was featured on or appeared in multiple published recordings, including "Progression," "Sound Bites," "Canto: Music for Double Bass by Thomas Frederickson," "Teresa LeVelle: The Shadowlands," "Uncommon Voices," and "Exhortations: Virtuoso Solo Instrumental and Chamber Music."

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: An addition of music was provided by Renata Soares Caceres on November 14, 2022.

Access Restrictions: None.

Acquisition Source: Theresa Cameron, sister, for Michael Cameron

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Educational Materials, 1977-2004],
[Series 2: Administrative, 1993-2018],
[Series 3: Performances, Research and Service, 1989-2019],
[Series 4: Published and Original Music],
[Series 5: Sound Recordings, 1949-2010],
[Series 6: Personal Papers, 1990-2008],
[All]

Series 3: Performances, Research and Service, 1989-2019

Contains Michael Cameron's programs, fliers, and posters as well as reviews from events that he performed in, his published articles especially from the Chicago Tribune, material related to the creation of the website BassScores.com, materials related to his recordings with record labels, and materials related to the International Society of Bassists and the American String Teachers Association. Items are arranged by type (such as programs or publications) and then chronologically.

Sub-Series 1: Performances

Contains materials related to Michael Cameron's performances such as programs and flyers, reviews of performances, biographies included with reviews or with programs, and contracts and correspondence with performance venues. Materials related to specific ensembles which Cameron played in (Ciosoni and Sinfonia da Camera) have been kept together. Items are arranged chronologically.

Box 2

Folder 10: Biographies on Cameron, undated
Folder 11: Ciosoni, undated
Folder 12: Lectures, undated
Folder 13: Performance Venue Correspondence and Contacts, 1989-1997
Folder 14: Programs and Flyers, 1980-1988
Folder 15: Programs and Flyers, 1989-September 1990
Folder 16: Programs and Flyers, April 1990
Folder 17: Programs and Flyers, October 1990-October 1995
Folder 18: Programs and Flyers, November 1995-December 1997
Folder 19: Programs and Flyers, June 1991-2001
Folder 20: Programs and Flyers, 2002-2008
Folder 21: Programs and Flyers, 2009-2019
Folder 22: Programs and Flyers, undated
Folder 23: Sinfonia, 1996
Folder 24: Performance Reviews, 1995-1999

Box 3

Folder 12: Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, 2019

Box 9

Folder 1: Posters and Flyers, undated

Box 14

Folder 5: Large Posters, 1994-2013

Box 18

Folder 2: Recital Programs, 2016-2017

Sub-Series 2: Publications

Contains materials that Micahel Cameron published or which are which are related to his publications. Publications include reviews written for the Chicago Tribune as well as other published newspaper articles from unknown sources, and materials from his music literature project. Other items related to his publications include contracts and notes with recording labels especially related to his publication of the album "Sound Bites," and business records from the creation of BassScores.com.

Box 2

Folder 1: Tribune Reviews, undated
Folder 2: Articles 1, undated
Folder 3: Articles 2, undated
Folder 4: Literature Project, 1999
Folder 5: Uncommon Voices, 2007
Folder 6: Sound Bites, undated
Folder 7: Recording Contracts 1, undated
Folder 8: Recording Contracts 2, undated
Folder 9: BassScores.Com, undated

Box 3

Folder 11: Recording Notes, undated
Folder 13: Project Notes, undated

Sub-Series 3: Professional Service

Contains materials related to Michael Cameron's membership in professional organizations such as the International Society of Bassists and the American String Teachers Association, newsletters and publications from the organizations of which he was a member, materials related to conferences which he traveled to, and correspondence and paperwork from his Potsdam Residency.

Box 3

Folder 14: Conferences, 1991-1998
Folder 15: Conferences, undated
Folder 16: Potsdam Residency, 1994-1997
Folder 17: American String Teacher Association, Sonorities, 1997-2019
Folder 18: International Society of Bassists, 1983-1986
Folder 19: International Society of Bassists, 1987-Spring 1989
Folder 20: International Society of Bassists, Fall 1989-2005
Folder 21: International Society of Bassists, 2007-2016