A native of Chicago, Steven Gathman has worked at Washington National Opera at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts for 21 seasons, the last 18 as Chorus Master and Head of Music Staff. At WNO he has prepared the chorus for 110 productions and has conducted main-stage performances of Tosca, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Clemenza di Tito, Der Fliegende Hollander and Carmen.

He has also been an Assistant Conductor at The Metropolitan Opera, Il Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Opera Pacific, and has served on the faculty of the University of Maryland, College Park, and served as a guest coach at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia in addition to giving master classes at universities around the country. Presented with the Miami Music Festival 2019.