Two-time GRAMMY winner, STEPHEN STUBBS, BEMF Artistic Co-Director, Musical Co-Director, won the Grammy Award as conductor for Best Opera Recording in 2015, and a second Grammy in the Classical Vocal category in 2026, spent a thirty-year career in Europe. He returned to his native Seattle in 2006 as one of the world’s most respected lutenists, conductors, and Baroque opera specialists. He now lives with his family in Agua Dulce, California.

In 2007, Stephen established Pacific MusicWorks (PMW), based in Seattle, reflecting his lifelong interest in both early music and contemporary performance. The company’s inaugural presentation was South African artist William Kentridge’s acclaimed multimedia staging of Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses. PMW’s performances of the Monteverdi Vespers were described in the press as “utterly thrilling” and “of a quality you are unlikely to encounter anywhere else in the world.” PMW is now a touring ensemble.

Stephen Stubbs is also the Boston Early Music Festival’s Artistic Co-Director along with his long-time colleague Paul O’Dette. Stephen and Paul are also the musical directors of all BEMF operas, recordings of which were nominated for seven Grammy awards, with wins in 2015 and 2026. Also in 2015, BEMF recordings won two Echo Klassik awards and the Diapason d’Or de l’Année. In 2017, they received the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. 

In addition to his ongoing commitments to BEMF and PMW, other recent appearances have included conducting Gluck’s Orfeo in Bilbao, Mozart’s Magic Flute for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Handel’s Semele for Opera Omaha, Rameau’s Hippolyte et Aricie for Juilliard, Mozart’s Il re pastore for the Merola program, and seven productions for Opera UCLA including Cavalli’s Giasone and Handel’s Amadigi. He has conducted Handel’s Messiah with the Seattle, San Francisco, Edmonton, Birmingham, Houston, Calgary and Nova Scotia Symphony orchestras.

His extensive discography as conductor and solo lutenist includes well over 100 CDs, many of which have received international acclaim and awards.

Stephen is represented by Schwalbe and Partners in New York.