Stephen Czarkowski
Music Director & Philharmonic Conductor
Maestro Stephen Czarkowski is an acclaimed conductor, cellist and educator based in Washington, D.C., with an expansive portfolio of work in both the classical music and educationMaestro Stephen Czarkowski is an acclaimed conductor, cellist and educator based in Washington, D.C.,with an expansive portfolio of work in both the classical music and education industries.
Mr. Czarkowski’s repertoire of conducting performances spans across multiple orchestras and symphonies, and nearly two decades of service.As of 2023, Mr. Czarkowski has been named Music Director and Conductor of the Central Pennsylvania Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Newark Symphony Orchestra. He has led the National Symphony Orchestra as part of its National Conducting Institute under Leonard Slatkin and has guest conducted in Honolulu, HI, at the Viriginia Symphony Orchestras, and Symphony of the Potomac. In his eleven seasons as the Conductor of the Apollo Orchestra, Czarkowski collaborated with soloists from all over the Northeast region, most notably the New York Philharmonic and the Washington National Opera, as well as conducted several performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Additionally, since 2015, Mr. Czarkowski has served as Assistant Conductor of the York Symphony, conducting alongside York’s Music Director Lawrence Golan.
As a cellist, Mr. Czarkowski performs as soloist and member of the Tryos Ensemble with trumpeter Neil Brown. Mr. Czarkowski graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Graduate Artist Diploma in Orchestral Conducting. He also holds a Masters' Degree in Cello performance and conducting, and a Bachelor's Degree in Cello from Mannes College under the tutelage of Carter Brey, Principal Cellist of the New York Philharmonic. As an educator, Mr. Czarkowski leads the Frederick
Regional Youth Orchestra, the Symphonette at Landon School, and orchestras at the Norwood
School and Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School.
His youth ensembles have performed at the Library of Congress, The Hershey Park Music Showcase Festival and Orlando Music Festival. He has taught masterclasses at West Point Military Academy, The Catholic University of America, Howard County Schools and Loudon County Schools. Outside of his musical endeavors, Czarkowski is a member of the International Conductor's Guild Board of Directors and holds seats onThe New School Alumni Council and The Paper Bag Mask Foundation Board of Directors.