Stephen Barchan studied composition with Richard Steinitz at the University of Huddersfield and Edwin Roxburgh at Birmingham Conservatoire, supported by the EMI Music Sound Foundation. He was awarded two scholarships by OCNM to attend Ostrava Days 2003 and 2005, plus a bursary from the Royal Academy of Music to attend Open Academy in 2008.

Performances and broadcasts of his work have been given throughout the UK and abroad by many distinguished organisations and performers including Aldeburgh Music, BBC Radio, BCMG, Endymion, Gerry Cornelius, Jane Manning, London Sinfonietta, LSO Discovery, Mimi Doulton, Park Lane Group, Peter Donohoe, Psappha, Riot Ensemble and the Royal Musical Association.

From 2010-11 he was a member of the London Sinfonietta Collective and a Britten-Pears Young Artist from 2012-13. During 2011-14 he served as Chair of the Composers Forum for London New Wind Festival.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Tutor in Composition and Music Theory at Dulwich Music Academy.