Stephen Czarkowski

Cellist and conductor Stephen Czarkowski joined Shepherd University in the Fall 2004 as Adjunct Faculty of Cello. He is a founding member of the Shepherd String Trio, sectional coach for the Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra and Principal Cellist of the 2 Rivers Chamber Orchestra. Graduating from Catholic University of America in 2005, he received a Graduate Artist Diploma in conducting. Prior to CUA he received a Master of Music Degree in both cello and conducting and a Bachelor of Music Degree in cello performance from The Mannes College of Music-New School University, NYC. Further studies included the Juilliard School of Music in the Professional Intern Department and The Aspen Music Festival.

Mr. Czarkowski studied cello with Carter Brey, principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic. He also studied at the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival with Barbara Stein Mallow, founding member of the Carnegie String Quartet and Jerry Grossman, principal cellist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Additionally, Mr. Czarkowski was invited to study at the Perlman Summer Music Festival for several summers, where he was coached by Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zuckerman and Barbara Stein Mallow. Mr. Czarkowski has played with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Arlington Symphony Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, North Jersey Philharmonic, Orchestra by the Sea, Maryland Symphony, Opera Camarata of DC and Summer Opera. He is also featured in the country group Rascal Flatts’ music video "Feels Like Today".

In addition to teaching at Shepherd, Mr. Czarkowski is currently on the faculty of Montgomery College, where is the conductor of the Montgomery College Symphony Orchestra and director of the Empowered to Excel Program.

Recently Mr. Czarkowski was appointed to the cello faculty of the Bullis, Holton Arms and Landon Schools.

Mr. Czarkowski currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Conductors Guild. In 2003 he led the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., as a debut conductor, in conjunction with being selected for the National Conducting Institute, directed by former NSO Music Director Leonard Slatkin.

For more information please visit www.sczarkowski.com