Stephan’s musical career
- born on February 29th 1980 in Halle (Saale)/Germany as first of four children
- already in early childhood member of several children’s choirs
- first (classical) trombone lessons at the age of nine years and at the same time member of the youth wind orchestra of the city of Halle (Saale)
- after graduating from high school (at age 18) short break of playing trombone and activity as a drummer in the fortissimo-Band
- at the age of 20 years resumption to the trombone and admission to the Youth Jazz Orchestra of Saxony–Anhalt
- 04/2001: admission to the Academy of Music „Franz Liszt”in Weimar/Germany and study with professor Ansgar Striepens
- Spring 2003: admission to the Federal Youth Jazz Orchestra of Germany (conductor: Peter Herbolzheimer)
- also 2003: release of the CD „When You Speak Love” (Youth Jazz Orchestra of Saxony-Anhalt)
- 09/2004 – 05/2005: study at the New School University, New York with Chris Washburne, Benny Powell, John Mosca, Steve Turré, among others
- beyond that, participation in workshops with Jiggs Whigham, Joe Gallardo, Adrian Mears, Ed Neumeister, Erik van Lier, Al Porcino a.o., and participation in several big bands and ensembles like the youth jazz orchestras of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg, Thuringia Big Band, university big bands (Weimar, Leipzig, and New York), Leipzig Big Band, Bobby Sanabria’s Afro Cuban Orchestra (N.Y.)
- winner of the composition contest for a celebration fanfare for the 1200 year celebration of the city of Halle (Saale) in 2006
- Fall 2007: co conductor and instructor at the music orchestra Halle-Neustadt (“Musikverein Halle-Neustadt”), original member of the newly established Big Band “SPIELVEREINIGUNG SUED”, CD production of the Spielvereingung Sued
- November 2008: trombone tutor at the workshop for aspiring members of the Youth Jazz Orchestra of Saxony