Stephen Ahearn joined the Dallas Symphony in the fall of 2012. Prior to moving to Dallas, he served as the acting second and E-flat clarinetist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, bass clarinetist with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, the principal clarinetist of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and adjunct professor of clarinet at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stephen has recently appeared as a guest of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Music from the University of Richmond, and a Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. His teachers include Todd Levy, Ricardo Morales, David Weber and David Niethamer. Stephen lives in the Dallas Arts District with his wife Jori and bulldog Lucille.