Stephen Mark Barchan was born in Middlesbrough, October 1982. He studied with Richard Steinitz and Edwin Roxburgh (supported by the EMI Music Sound Foundation), and is currently studying with Richard Causton. His music has been played throughout Europe, Australia and the USA, along with various radio broadcasts.

Barchan has been the recipient of many awards, including the 4th Andrej Panufnik International Young Composers Competition (2002), Denis and Maud Wright Composition Award (2003), J Wood and Sons Prize (2004) and the Philip Bates Prize for Young Composers (2005, joint-second prize).

Amongst the many festivals who have presented Barchan's music are Artsfest, Chamberfest, Composers Marathon, Contemporary Connexions, First National Flute Choir Day, Frome Festival, 14th International New Music Week Festival, Music Xtra Festival, New Generation Arts Festival, Ostrava Days, Third International Festival Of Composition 'Alfeo Gigli' and the WRITING FOR...series, hosted by the spnm, at venues including Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Industrial Gallery), CBSO Centre, Centrum Kultury ?ydowskiej, Frome Memorial Theatre, Janá?kova konzervato? v Ostrav?, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, St. Martins Church, St. Pauls Hall, Studioul "Chopin" (Universitatea Na?ional? de Muzic? din Bucure?ti), Tasmin Little Music Centre, The Warehouse, Villa Mazzacorati, Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall).

Performers include BCMG, BBC New Generation Artists, Centenary Brass, Composers Ensemble, Ensemble Firebird, Ensemble Interakt, Ensemble Octandre, Galliard Ensemble, Orfeusz Chamber Orchestra, Soozvuk Ensemble, Thallein Ensemble, Barrie Webb, Camilla Hoitenga, Christopher Redgate, Darragh Morgan, Joesph Kubera, Peter Donohoe, Peter Wiegold, Renata Guzik and Stephen Alder.