Rachel Stegeman

About

Rachel Stegeman is an international violinist and educator whose music career spans over four decades and three continents, performing with top major symphonies in major concert halls and venues and maintaining an active presence in the orchestral, studio recording, and chamber music worlds. Her diverse experience informs her teaching, providing students with practical and artistic guidance rooted in real-world performance.

A native of Washington, D.C., Stegeman began her violin studies at age eight and later studied with National Symphony Concertmaster William Steck. She made her solo debut with the National Symphony Orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky "Violin Concerto" at 17. During her early career in the D.C. area, she performed with the National Symphony, the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, and numerous regional ensembles. Highlights from this period include performances at the White House and a special performance for the Pope at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

In 1989, Stegeman relocated to Southern California, where she held leadership positions with the Pacific Symphony (acting Associate Concertmaster), the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (Associate Concertmaster), and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Associate Concertmaster). She also performed as a substitute with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for both concerts and tours. In Los Angeles, she became one of the most sought-after studio violinists, recording over 650 film scores, 80 television productions, more than 300 albums, and countless commercials. Her performance work includes recordings across genres—classical, jazz, pop, R&B, rock, and contemporary music—for over 100 labels worldwide. She also appeared in live broadcasts such as the Academy Awards, The Tonight Show, VH-1 Awards, and many other nationally televised events.

Since 2002, Stegeman has been based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She currently serves as Concertmaster of both the Youngstown Symphony and the Wheeling Symphony, Associate Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, and she enjoyed a ten-year career as a substitute violinist in the Pittsburgh Symphony, enjoying three full-time contracts during this tenure. Her summer festival engagements have included the Sunflower Music Festival, Buzzards Bay Musicfest, and the St. Barts Music Festival in the French West Indies. She remains active as a chamber musician, collaborating with artists from across the U.S. and abroad.

As an educator, Stegeman is committed to mentoring the next generation of violinists. In addition to her position at Youngstown State University, she has served as Adjunct Professor of Violin at Duquesne University since 2002. Her students have gone on to hold positions in major orchestras and ensembles, including the San Antonio Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Victoria Symphony, Calgary New World Symphony, the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and as substitutes with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Opera, and Ballet Orchestras. Dozens of others are employed as music educators throughout Pennsylvania and in school districts across New York, West Virginia, and other states.

Stegeman is the founder of Violin and Viola Boot Camp, Pump Up Your Practice Summer Strings Institute, and Audition Boot Camp, programs designed to strengthen technical foundations, audition preparation, and performance confidence. This has successfully helped her students become the front desks of the top Youth Orchestras for the last 10+ years. She also maintains a private studio focused on high-level training for violinists and violists.

She holds degrees in Violin Performance from Catholic University and Duquesne University, and her principal teachers have included Robert Lipsett, William Steck, Sidney Harth, Luis Haza, Ramona Coppage, and Leslye Gartrell. She performs on a 1923 H. Fagnola violin.

Outside of her professional life, she enjoys time with her husband, violinist and professor Charles Stegeman, their four children, and their two westies.