Artist Biography Steve
Schuch started violin at the age of seven. He began playing professionally
while still in high school. Later at Oberlin College he continued
studying both music and biology. There he started listening to different
kinds of music beyond just classical, picked up his first used $25
guitar, and began writing his first songs.
After college Steve spent two and a half years as
a Peace Corps volunteer, planting trees with farmers in the mountains
of the Dominican Republic. There he listened to the different melodies
and rhythms and began writing more of his own music. Many evenings,
a guitar would be passed around a room full of people. By lantern
light, young and old alike shared music and stories over cups of
ginger root tea and home grown coffee.
Since returning to the United States in 1984,
Steve and his music have embraced both the classical and folk realms.
Haunting violin and whale calls... music and tales of Ireland...
a pizzicato interpretation of a Picasso painting... these are just
part of Steve's wide-ranging repertoire.
Many of his pieces have been featured on National Public Radio and
PBS.
For four years Steve taught a graduate course
on integrating music and storytelling into classroom curriculum.
A former Audubon naturalist, Steve lives on a farm with his wife
and various creatures. Personal interests include white water canoeing,
Mexican food, and relating to large reptiles.
Honors
include composer awards, Artist Fellowship Awards, and five fiddling
championships. Steve's recordings with The
Night Heron Consort are national bestsellers on the North Star
label. His latest book, A Symphony
of Whales, has received five national book awards. His latest
CD, Trees of Life, has received a Parent's
Choice Gold Award.