Alan Stepansky

Alan Stepansky serves as Professor of Cello and Chair of the Strings Department at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, while also holding faculty positions at the Manhattan School of Music and Music Academy of the West. A former Associate Principal Cellist of the New York Philharmonic with 15 years of orchestral experience including principal roles in the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops, he maintains an active career as soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist.

His research and performance interests span Cello Performance, Chamber Music, and Orchestral Studies, with significant contributions to film soundtracks including Barbie, West Side Story (2020), and Sting collaborations. His performance philosophy integrates classical rigor with cross-genre experimentation, evidenced by recordings spanning classical, rock, and jazz collaborations with artists like Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie.

Dr. Stepansky's teaching excellence has been recognized with Johns Hopkins' highest teaching honor. His students occupy principal and associate principal positions in major orchestras worldwide including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Shanghai Symphony.

• Johns Hopkins Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award
• Horblit Prize from Harvard University

As an educator, he has mentored cellists who now hold positions in 20+ major international orchestras. His performance career includes five Carnegie Hall benefit concerts for global humanitarian causes and collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and Wynton Marsalis. Current artistic work focuses on film soundtracks and chamber music recordings.