Matěj Štěpánek is a Czech cellist who has served as first deputy concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic since 2023. He trained in Pardubice, at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts (HAMU), and at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden, joining the Philharmonic as a guest player at age 19. Alongside his orchestral work he is a founding member of Cello Republic, a crossover quartet that pairs high-level playing with stand-up comedy.
Cello Republic started the year 2026 with a tour of Czech cities - in January they performed in Pelhřimov and Příbram.
Cello Republic performed at the Kocianovo Ústí 2025 festival as part of its 20th edition.
Cello Republic premiered their debut album Freedom, which features arrangements of works by Queen, Jaroslav Ježek, Stevie Wonder, and the musical Phantom of the Opera.
The Cello Republic ensemble was officially founded in September 2022, when Matěj Štěpánek joined the trio from Prague Cello Quartet.
