Stephen Balderston

Stephen Balderston is a master chamber musician and coach of the highest caliber. Professor Emeritus of DePaul University School of Music, Balderston’s experience spans performance and teaching in a variety of venues, master classes, and adjudications around the United States. He has performed solo works and chamber music with Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Christoph Eschenbach, Lynn Harrell, Yo-Yo Ma, Menahem Pressler, Gil Shaham, Joseph Silverstein and Pinchas Zukerman, and appeared as featured artist at the Ravinia Festival, the International Festival-Institute at Round Top, the American String Project, and Bargemusic, as well as many other national and international festivals over his long career. 

Balderston was the original cello coach for Daniel Barenboim’s “West-Eastern Divan” workshops in Weimar, Germany; Chicago, IL; and Seville, Spain. He was featured in both Shanghai, China’s international music festival and the International String Music Festival in Taiwan. He has been a regular participant, coach, and soloist at many prestigious summer venues, including the International Festival – Institute at Round Top, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the ARIA International Summer Academy, and Marrowstone Music Festival. Balderston was a long-time member of the American Chamber Players.

Balderston was Assistant Principal Cello with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 10 years, and prior to that, a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for 10 years. He performed as soloist with both orchestras. Balderston began his studies on the cello with Gabor Rejto in his native southern California and earned both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Lynn Harrell.