Assistant Concertmaster - The Meditch Chair
Christal Phelps Steele joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1973 as assistant principal second violin and became an assistant concertmaster in 1978. She has been a soloist with the ISO on numerous occasions. Born in Indianapolis, she studied at the University of Indianapolis with former ISO concertmaster Arthur Tabachnick and at Indiana University with Josef Gingold. She has held faculty positions at Butler University and the University of Indianapolis.

Ms. Steele is a section coach for the ISO’s Side by Side program. In addition, she uses much of her off-stage time as a volunteer for the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team. She and her husband are the parents of a son and a daughter. She also spends time traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, camping, biking, playing tennis and doing needlepoint.