Stephen Hall is a musician based in Pasadena, California. Active in Southern and Northern California - and occasionally around the world - he performs recitals and concerts as a marimba and percussion soloist, plays with various orchestras and ensembles, teaches young percussionists and piano students, writes new music, and arranges music from past eras for the marimba. *Some of Stephen's published work is available here.

With every activity he engages in, Stephen sees music as a beautiful momentary treasure that can be a shared experience. In search of those moments of connection, Stephen lives his life within the following cycle:
That is, to take in the inspiring things from the real world - could be a person, a book, a feeling, a movement, etc. - and channel those energies/ideas to create meaningful artwork. Then, share it with whomever might be listening. Then repeat. 

Stephen applies this creative life approach to  his music as well as to his teaching of students, from beginners to advanced. His students learn that it isn't all about perfect technique (although technique is an important tool!); there is a deeper and more fulfilling purpose of music.
Growing up on the South side of Chicago, despite coming from a non-musical family, Stephen's parents embraced his interest in music and he began piano lessons at the age of five. Over the years, he increasingly dedicated himself to music, constantly surrounding himself with the most talented musicians he could find, and joining groups like the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra and spending four years as an award-winning member of Drum Corps International.

Stephen went on to receive a bachelors degree at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied with world-renowned soloist She-e Wu. Among countless rewarding experiences during this time, he performed as featured soloist with the NU Percussion Ensemble, recorded an album,   rising...,  with  Mallory Thompson and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and collaborated with artists like So Percussion. During his  undergraduate studies he was awarded first prize at the Percussive Arts Society International Marimba Solo Competition in 2012.
​
Recently, Stephen completed his graduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory, studying  with esteemed retired principal percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony, Jack van Geem.  While getting his masters degree, he had the pleasure of performing at the  opening of the San Francisco Symphony's acclaimed SoundBox performance space with Michael Tilson Thomas, and played with  the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. 

Since then, Stephen performed and taught around the Bay Area  before moving to Berlin, Germany for a 6-month residency, where he played as part of the rich orchestral music scene and was inspired by the home country of some of the most significant figures in Western Classical music. ​

Resume
Resume  *this is an abbreviated resume. For a for an exhaustive resume, please contact me.