Steven Antonelli is a New York-based artist who has worked as a professional musician and composer for over 50 years. Following his graduation from Berklee College of Music in 1978, he moved to New York City where he performed both with his own groups and as a sideman at venues ranging from Folk City, CBGBs, Mudd Club, Beacon Theater, and Danceteria to the Kitchen, Knitting Factory, Merkin Concert Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. While working as a guitarist for Glenn Branca, Jeff Lohn, and Virgil Moorefield, Steven performed in Chicago, France, England, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, and recorded on each composer's albums.

While working at LaMaMa Experimental Theater Company, Steven composed music for playwrights including John Jesurun, directed his own ensemble concerts, and produced over 100 concerts for NYC composers. Steven recorded and performed with Diane McKoy and a Small Few for ten years playing bluegrass-gospel music throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He was the Composer in Residence for the New York Mandolin Orchestra for six years, and is the founder and Director of the prolific New York Mandolin Ensemble.

He was a member of the Manhattan Mandolin Quartet led by Tamara Volskaya, and also currently performs with vocal-instrumental trio Country Mouse / City Mouse, the Rose Bloom Mandolin Quartet, and L'Esperance Mandolin Ensemble. In 2023, he released a two volume CD compilation of his orchestral music titled "Everything Real Casts a Shadow,” available on Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube.