Stephen Stubbs

Stephen Stubbs (born 1951) is a lutenist and director and has been a leading figure in the European early music scene for nearly thirty years.

He was born in Seattle and studied harpsichord and composition at the University of Washington where, at the same time, he began to play the lute. He left America after graduation to study the instrument in England and Holland giving his debut concert in London’s Wigmore Hall in 1976. Since 1981 Stubbs has been teaching at the Musikhochschule Bremen in Germany where he is currently holding a post as professor. He has performed extensively with his ensembles Tragicomedia and Teatro Lirico, and conducted baroque opera worldwide. He recorded numerous LPs and CDs with famous other Ensembles like Hilliard Ensemble or with Andrew Lawrence-King.

Moving to Seattle in 2006, he has established a program there for young professional singers called Seattle Academy of Baroque Opera. He is artistic co-director of the Boston Early Music Festival.