Under the leadership of acclaimed Maestro Stephen Czarkowski, the Central Pennsylvania Symphony, a non-profit organization, is embarking on its 33rd season of delivering a varied repertoire of classical and modern symphonic music.
About the Symphony
Our Mission
The Central Pennsylvania Symphony serves our community by providing a varied repertoire of high-quality classical, modern, and popular symphonic music in a manner that is accessible to diverse audiences.
For over thirty years, our dedicated and talented musicians have entertained audiences and captured the imaginations of people of all ages across central Pennsylvania. Research has proven that the arts uniquely provides social and academics benefits, throughout a person’s school, work, and life.
The Central Pennsylvania Symphony is a non-profit organization striving to be the best volunteer symphony orchestra in the region while providing cultural experiences to our community.
Maestro Stephen Czarkowski is in demand as a conductor, cellist and educator in the Washington, D.C. area and nationally. Starting with the 2022-23 season Mr. Czarkowski has been named Music Director and Conductor of the Central Pennsylvania Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Newark Symphony Orchestra. He is in his eleventh season as Conductor of the Apollo Orchestra, and has collaborated with artists from the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, New York Philharmonic and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). He has led the Apollo Orchestra in performances at the Kennedy Center for the past several years. He led the National Symphony Orchestra as part of its National Conducting Institute under Leonard Slatkin and has guest conducted the Honolulu, Viriginia Symphony Orchestras, and Symphony of the Potomac, among others. For the past eight years Mr. Czarkowski served as assistant conductor of the York Symphony where he conducted education and several subscription concerts with 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 receiving a full scholarship and teaching assistantship. He also holds a Masters' Degree in 'cello performance and conducting, and Bachelor's Degree in 'cello from Mannes College under the tutelage of Carter Brey, principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic. He is a member of the International Conductor's Guild Board of Directors, New School Alumni Council and Paper Bag Mask Foundation Board of Directors. As music educator, Mr. Czarkowski leads the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, Symphonette at Landon School, and orchestras at the Norwood School and Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. His ensembles have performed at the Library of Congress, Hershey Park Music Showcase Festival and Orlando Music Festival. Recently he has given masterclasses at West Point Military Academy, Catholic University of America, Howard County Schools and Loudon County Schools. For more information please visit stephenczarkowski.com