Steve graduated summa cum laude from Temple University Esther Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia, PA, earning his Bachelor of Music Education (with Performance Concentration in Piano) and Master in Music (ABT) Degrees, the President’s Scholar Award, and a Fellowship in Music Theory. As a member of the Temple University Concert Choir, Steve sang with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy, Robert Shaw, Carlo Maria Giulini, and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Steve studied tuba with Rex Martin at Northwestern University, and has performed in Master Classes for Arnold Jacobs and Sam Pilafian.

At recent NABBA Competitions, Steve has been a prize winner in the Solo Competition, a member of the award-winning Prairie Brass Quintet, and an accompanist for several other soloists.

He is currently Principal Tuba in City Symphony of Chicago and Wheaton Symphony Orchestra. Steve is the tubist and Musical Director of Chicago Brass Band Players. He is also a member of the Barrington Brass Quintet, Chicago Brass Choir, and freelances throughout the Chicago area. Steve is Tenor Soloist at North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, IL, and Choir Director at Congregation Kol Emeth in Skokie, IL.

A member of Chicago Master Singers under the direction of Alan Heatherington for 10 years, one of Steve’s compositions appears on their CD, “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs.” Steve met his wife, Tricia, while they were both singing in a professional 12-voice madrigal ensemble. Their two children enjoy music, but neither plays a brass or percussion instrument (what went wrong?). Steve is Director of Sales for The Beautiful Sound, northern Illinois’ and northwest Indiana’s only authorized Steinway, Boston, and Essex Piano dealer. “People often comment how much fun I must have playing Steinways all day,” says Steve. “But my job is to get OTHER people in to play Steinways!”