Stephen Drake, Principal Cello

Stephen Drake moved to Nashville in 1984 after being hired by the Nashville Symphony, and has been there since then. Born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Ithaca, New York, Stephen studied at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Virginia Commonwealth University, and attended the Aspen School of Music for several summers. Before moving to Nashville he played in the Richmond Symphony, the Virginia Symphony and the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.

Stephen has played in Orchestra Kentucky Bowling Green, the Huntsville Symphony, the Mantovani Orchestra, and spent several summers playing in shows at Opryland USA. He has been principal cellist in the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, the Bryan Symphony in Cookeville, Tennessee, and the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra. Stephen is very active in the studio recording scene in Nashville, and has recorded with the Nashville String Machine many times.

Stephen lives in the Green Hills area of Nashville with his wife and daughter.