He is a double bassist born in Chicago who studied at Northwestern University. While still a student he started to perform with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.
He went on to perform firstly with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and then the Milwaukee Orchestra over two seasons. In 1978 he became a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
He also performs as a soloist and chamber musician and has served as chairman of the CSO’s Orchestra Members Committee.
Recordings he her performed on include Corigiano: Symphony No. 1, Wagner: Overtures and Preludes, Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3, Samuel Barber: The Lovers; Prayers of Kierkegaard and the soundtrack to the film Lincoln by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and A Fresh Aire Christmas and Yellowstone: The Music of Nature by Mannheim Steamroller.
In the field of musical education he has been a member of the bass faculty of Roosevelt University College of Fine Arts.
His wife, Rachel Goldstein, is a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Sources:
- https://cso.org/about/performers/cso-musicians/strings/bass/stephen-lester/
- https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoSymphony/photos/cso-bass-stephen-lester-surveys-the-hall-as-he-warms-up-before-the-rehearsal-tod/10156264951913049/
- https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702464557/2-sides-in-chicago-symphony-orchestra-strike-to-meet-on-friday?t=1641652789325
- https://cso.org/about/performers/cso-musicians/strings/violin/rachel-goldstein/
- https://doublebassblog.org/links
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-lester-mn0002285861/credits
- https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/1591771-Stephen-Lester