Studied at Oxford University, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio in London and is now an MD and pianist, working with the UK’s major opera houses including Glyndebourne, ROH, ENO and Scottish Opera.

His conducting experience has included work for the Musica nel Chiostro opera festival in Batignano, Tuscany, where he was musical director for 6 years, Music director of Opera Faber in North Portugal, conducting L’Elisir d’Amore and Don Giovanni with the Orquesta da Norte and the Orquesta Nacional de Porto and, recently, the LPO and Philharmonia orchestras at the Royal Festival Hall in Jude Kelly’s celebrated production of Carmen Jones.

A stint in Paris working on A Little Night Music earlier this year led to meeting Sondheim himself and a return visit to do Sweeney Todd. Stephen is Musical Director for Medium Rare, a cabaret/variety company which performs regularly throughout London and Europe. Alongside Hal Cazalet and Eliza Lumley, Stephen has performed at supper clubs and cabaret venues both in London (including at Annabel’s night club) and in New York.

An interest in community and education work has led to music directorships of many innovative and critically acclaimed cross-over projects Stephen has also worked for many TV and film companies in the role of Music Supervisor, producing films and documentaries for FilmFour, BBC2, and Channel 4, including Dustin Hoffman’s ‘Quartet’ currently in production in London.

A member of ENO’s music staff for six years, Stephen conducted Magic Flute for the company, and created a new commission The Duchess of Malfi, a co-production with ENO and the theatre company punchdrunk, which he premiered in July 2011.

Recent engagements include La Boheme and Magic Flute with Co-opera-co on a UK tour, a series of concerts with tenor Alfie Boe, and a new piece, ’Dr Dee’ by Damon Albarn for the Manchester festival and ENO, which will shortly be recorded by EMI. Future plans include a national tour with Alfie Boe, concerts of opera highlights and Last Night of the Proms material in Canary Wharf, and a revival of Dr Dee at the London Coliseum as part of the 2012 cultural Olympiad.