Assistant Principal/Utility Horn of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Adjunct Professor of Horn at Christopher Newport University, and Horn Instructor of the summer festival New England Music Camp, Stephen A. Slater is recognized worldwide, having performed in five continents in some of the most treasured concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Macau Cultural Centre, Frederic R. Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex in Caracas, & Teatro Bibiena in Italy, among others.

Mr. Slater recently performed as Assistant Principal/Utility Horn of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and Second Horn with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (2017-18), and has played Benjamin Britten’s Serenade with the Blue Bell Symphony in Pennsylvania. During the 2013/14 season, Mr. Slater performed Mozart’s Horn Concerto in D, K. 412 again in Blue Bell. Stephen was Assistant/Utility horn of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra from 2007-09. While in Israel he performed on tour as Guest Principal horn with the Israel Chamber Orchestra of Tel Aviv and Substitute horn of the iconic Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Before his work in the Middle East, Stephen was awarded Principal horn of the Daejeon
Philharmonic Orchestra in Daejeon, South Korea. In February 2007, he was invited to play and performed with the Macau Symphony Orchestra in the S.A.R. of Macau (Asia). From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Slater was Solo horn of the ensemble Tales & Scales, spinning music, story, theatre, and dance into over 200 ‘musictelling’ performances.

A recent Graduate Performance Diploma graduate at the Peabody Institute with Denise Tryon, Stephen also completed his master’s degree at the University of Colorado, studying with Michael Thornton, and undergraduate degree with David Jolley at the Manhattan School of Music. Other instructors include Richard Deane, Jerome Ashby, John Cerminaro, and John Zirbel. Stephen lived in Denver, Colorado from 2001 to 2004 playing Second horn with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, founding the award-winning ensemble Tonic Brass, and was soloist with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra. He kept solo engagements in New York City with Manhattan Virtuosi and the Montauk Music Festival, as well as frequently performing with the critically-acclaimed Atlanta Boys Choir. Stephen has also performed at length with the Atlanta, Colorado, Charleston, Savannah, Hilton Head, Evansville, and Wyoming Symphony Orchestras. 

During the summer months, Stephen Slater performed with the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder (2015 & 2007), the Aspen Music Festival & School (2014, 1999, & 1998), was guest artist with the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet at the Madison Music Festival (2007), substitute horn of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO (2002 & 2003), was a fellow at the Cape May Music Festival in New Jersey (2000 & 2001), and guest of the 2000 Venezuelan Music Festival in Caracas. He was guest artist at the 31st Annual International Horn Symposium and grand prizewinner of the Sixth Annual Sister Mary Faustina Memorial Concert Competition in Marylhurst, Oregon.