Cellist/composer Steve Laven maintains a rich musical life filled with performing, composing and teaching.  Prior to relocating to Boston in 2006, he was a member of the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera Orchestras, as well as Principal Cellist of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra.  He has been on the faculties of Houston Baptist University, East Carolina University, and the American Festival of the Arts.  He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and earned his Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music.  Mr. Laven also served as principal cellist of the Omaha Symphony for nine years, appearing as soloist in seven consecutive seasons.  During the past nineteen summers, he has enjoyed performing orchestral and chamber music at the Grand Teton Music Festival. 

Mr. Laven's music has been performed on new music concert series in Houston and Galveston, Texas and his piece “A Barnraising” was played on the Kimmel Center “Presents” Chamber Music series by the Philadelphia Orchestra marimba quartet in May 2006.  The original string quartet version has been played by quartets from the Houston and Colorado Symphony and premiered by his quartet, The Wind River 4, at the Grand Teton Music Festival.  Music for string orchestra includes “Westward Odyssey” which won honorable mention in the 2006 Merle J. Isaac American String Teacher’s Association Composition Competition and “Snake River Stomp”, which won first prize in the Texas Orchestra Director’s Association 2008 Composition Competition.

Currently Mr. Laven lives in the Boston area and plays with such groups as the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Rhode Island Philharmonic and he is principal cellist of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra.  He has recently released a CD of his music entitled “Beyond the Odyssey.”  He is joined on three tracks by his wife, Cynthia Meyers, piccolo player of the Boston Symphony.