Stephen has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Urban Studies; a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Musicology; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology. He has taught in the Higher Education sector since 1980 at  Institutions including the Australian Institute of Music, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, the University of Newcastle and the Academy of Music and Performing Arts.

Stephen has published a range of articles on performance and in particular guitar performance and pedagogy. He has been an active teacher of classical guitar for a number of years. He has distinguished himself, further, in the area of musicology.