Musician Bio

Stephen Hawkey won the position of assistant principal cello of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2025 after serving as a member of the cello section since 2020. Since moving to Indianapolis, he has remained busy as performer and teacher in a variety of capacities. Stephen is currently adjunct professor of cello at the University of Indianapolis and Anderson University, where he teaches private lessons and chamber music courses. He also regularly curates and performs faculty solo and chamber recitals at both universities.

Prior to his time in Indianapolis, Stephen attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, earning his master’s degree in 2020. While at CIM, Stephen was a prize-winner in the concerto competition and performed Shostakovich’s Cello
Concerto No. 1 with the CIM Orchestra as a result. Outside of school, he maintained a busy performing schedule as principal cello of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, and section cello in the Akron, Ann Arbor, Canton, and Firelands Symphony Orchestras. Prior to attending the Cleveland Institute of Music, Stephen received his bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University in  reenville, South Carolina. In his sophomore year, he won the university’s concerto competition and performed Bloch’s Schelomo with the school orchestra. While in school, he performed with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra as a member of the cello section.

Throughout his undergraduate experience, Stephen was privileged to attend multiple summer music festivals, including the National Repertory Orchestra twice and the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy, where he was a concerto competition prize-winner and performed Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with the academy orchestra.

Stephen is married to ISO violinist Sophia Cho, and together they are the proud parents to three cats: Simba, Peppo, and Maxie. He is the youngest of five musical children and the proud uncle to fourteen nieces and nephews.

Outside of music, Stephen is an avid runner who has completed ten marathons, and is also a fan of soccer and tennis.