Steven Copes – Concerto Soloist, Chamber Musician and Orchestral Leader

Steven Copes leads an active musical life as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral leader and concertmaster of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra since 1998 and has performed concertos by Berg, Hindemith, Kirchner, Lutoslawski and Mozart among many others. Additionally he co-founded Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival in Colorado as well as Accordo Collective here in Minneapolis/St Paul.

Early Life and Education

Steven Copes enjoys an active musical life as both soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. Since 1998 he has served as Concertmaster of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, regularly soloing both with it and its chamber series. Additionally, he founded and is Director of Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival in Colorado; co-founded Accordo string ensemble; was appointed Guest Concertmaster with Chamber Orchestra of Europe Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony.

Copes has long championed contemporary music. He presented the world premiere of George Tsontakis’ Grammy-nominated Violin Concerto No. 2, winning a 2005 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award. Additionally, he recorded it for KOCH Records and is an active educator having taught or coached at New World Symphony Miami; Colorado College Summer Festival; National Orchestral Institute Maryland and Western Michigan University.

Professional Career

Steven Copes enjoys an exceptional musical career as concerto soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. Since joining the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as concertmaster in 1998, he has led them from their podium with highly-acclaimed and varied programs.

Garrison Keillor frequently features him as a soloist with the SPCO, performing concerti by Bach, Berg, Brahms, Hartmann, Hindemith, Kirchner, Korngold Lutoslawski Mendelssohn and Mozart among many others. Additionally he gave world premiere performances of George Tsontakis’ Grammy-nominated Violin Concerto No. 2, Pierre Jalbert’s Violin Concerto and John Novacek Four Rags with Garrison Keillor on NPR Prairie Home Companie

He is a founding member of both Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival in Colorado and Accordo, a Twin Cities-based chamber music ensemble. Additionally, he has appeared at festivals and series such as Aspen, Boston Chamber Music Society, Bridgehampton Caramoor Bravo Vail Cello Plus Cartagena La Jolla Summerfest Norfolk Seattle Chamber Music Society Mainly Mozart Marlboro Moritzburg Piccolo Spoleto Salt Bay Chamberfest among many others.

Achievement and Honors

Since joining the SPCO as Concertmaster in 1998, Copes has led it in several highly praised and diverse programs from its first chair. He frequently appears as a soloist with them too – performing concertos by Bach, Berg, Brahms, Hartmann, Hindemith, Kirchner, Korngold Lutoslawski and Mozart among many others.

His dedication as a teacher can be seen through his tenure at New World Symphony in Miami, Colorado College Summer Festival, National Orchestral Institute in Maryland as well as Western Michigan University, Indiana University, University of Minnesota and Roosevelt University in Chicago – not forgetting co-founding Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival in Colorado and Accordo, a chamber group made up of SPCO members in Twin Cities.

He currently performs on a violin designed by Samuel Zygmuntowicz that was modelled after the 1727 “Kreutzer” Stradivarius.

Personal Life

Steven Copes leads an active career as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. He has performed at festivals and concert series such as Aspen, Boston Chamber Music Society, Bridgehampton, Caramoor, Cello Plus Charlottesville Colorado College Four Seasons El Paso Pro Musica Institute for Advanced Study Princeton La Jolla Summerfest Mainly Mozart Marlboro Musical Masterworks Norfolk Mozaic Piccolo Spoleto Seattle Chamber Music Society Skaneateles among many more. Additionally he founded Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival Colorado as well as Accordo, an orchestral group based out of Minnesota Accordo.

Copes has served as SPCO Concertmaster since 1998, regularly performing in their chamber series and acting as chair conductor when absent of one. He was one of five founding members of Accordo, a five-member string ensemble which debuted in 2009. Additionally, as an avid educator he has taught or coached at such venues as Banff Centre in Canada, New World Symphony in Miami, National Orchestral Institute Maryland Western Michigan University University Minnesota Roosevelt University Chicago among many others.

Net Worth

Steven Cope has amassed great wealth through his career in music. Currently he boasts a net worth of $3 Million dollars but prefers living an unassuming life despite such wealth. Cope has performed at numerous acclaimed music festivals and concert series including Caramoor, Boston Chamber Music Society, Norfolk Marlboro & Chamber Music Northwest as well as solo concerts across the US & received many awards and accolades during this time.