Cellist Stephen Dorff lives in New York City and performs regularly as co-principal cellist of the Centre Symphony Orchestra and is a member of both the Greenwich Village Orchestra and Regina Opera Orchestra. He has also appeared with Dell’Arte Opera, Protestra, Amore Opera, and in performances at Brooklyn College and New York University.

Prior to relocating to New York, Mr. Dorff had an active career with the Des Moines Symphony, serving as acting associate principal cello during the 2018–2019 season. He was also a tenured member of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra in Indiana and played frequently with the Owensboro Symphony, Carmel Symphony, and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. In addition to his orchestral work, Mr. Dorff has presented solo and chamber music recitals across the United States, premiered new works at the Midwest Composers Symposium, and previously served as adjunct cello faculty at Central College.

Mr. Dorff received his early cello instruction from John Ehrlich of Drake University prior to studying with Peter Stumpf, Benjamin Karp, and the legendary János Starker at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cello performance. Additional studies have taken him to the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Vermont. He has also received valuable guidance in master classes and coachings from Matt Haimovitz, Jeffrey Solow, Emilio Colon, Eric Kim, Peter Howard, Alan Rafferty, Felix Wang, and members of the Pacifica and Arianna String Quartets.

Outside of music, Mr. Dorff works as an actuary at Everest Insurance. In his free time, he enjoys reading, swimming, and traveling. Mr. Dorff plays an American cello crafted by Christopher Dungey in 1994 which is supported with a bow made by William Napier for W.E. Hill & Sons of London, c. 1910.