Faculty Profile
Steve Yepez
NMS Flute Faculty
Professional
Steve Yépez is an active freelance musician in the greater Chicago area. In 2009, Steve Yépez founded the Chicago-based chamber ensemble Primavera Players now known as The Yépez Players. With a focus on student outreach concerts and chamber music, The Yépez Players is dedicated to exposing young people not only to classical music, but also to history and geography in a dynamic and interactive setting. The Yépez Players also play in various events in and around the city as part of the Skyline Salon Series.
As a performer, Mr. Yépez has enjoyed playing chamber music with NMS faculty and in groups such as the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra and Orbert Davis, as principal flute with the Chicago Summer Opera Theater, Chicago Arts Orchestra, Orchestra NOVA, the Chicago Metropolitan Orchestra and the Lira Ensemble of Chicago. In Los Angeles, he performed with the West Los Angeles Symphony, Burbank Philharmonic, Antelope Valley Symphony and the Beach Cities Symphony Orchestra. For three summers, Mr. Yepez had the opportunity to perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles as principal and assistant principal flutist in the Idyllwild Festival Orchestra. Mr. Yépez is on faculty at New Music School in Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Mr. Yépez has studied with Mary Stolper of the Grant Park Symphony, Sandra Iles of California State University, Northridge and Catherine Ransom Karoly of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has performed and participated in masterclasses with William Bennett, Walfrid Kujala, Jeanne Baxtresser, Anne Zentner, Jonathan Keeble, Eldred Spell, and Laurel Zucker.
Teaching
Mr. Yépez began teaching privately nearly ten years ago during his undergraduate studies in California, where he was the flute instructor at West Valley Music and A-Muse Music in Rancho Palos Verdes. He was also the flute coach for four summers at the Burbank High School Band Camp and an Idyllwild flute coach at the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival. Mr. Yépez’s flute instructors have been Mary Stolper, principal flute of the Grant Park Music Festival, Catherine Ransom Karoly, assistant principal flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Sandra Kipp Iles of California State University, Northridge
From private students to group instruction, Steve Yépez has developed a range of successful techniques for communicating not only the technical skills, but also the passion and joy of music. In addition, he imparts his students with the self discipline necessary to excel. He is proud to be a part of the New Music School and is dedicated to keeping a well structured and successful flute studio.
Steve Yépez received his Master of Music degree in flute performance from DePaul University (Chicago) and a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance from California State University (Northridge).