Stephen Smith grew up in rural Nova Scotia, Canada, where he sang and played the piano from an early age. After initial studies in his home province in both piano and organ, he attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, receiving the college's professional performer's diploma and the degree of Mus. M. in piano performance, winning numerous awards and distinctions in national and international competitions, and concertizing throughout England.

Since 1990, Stephen has lived in Vancouver, obtaining his doctoral degree in piano performance from the University of British Columbia, and contributing to the musical life of the city as a performer, teacher, composer, arranger, and conductor. Central to his career are his long-standing relationships with some of Vancouver’s finest choral groups, including the Vancouver Men’s Chorus, Elektra Women's Choir, the Vancouver Bach Choir, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. 

Stephen is a published composer and arranger of choral music with titles in the catalogues of Alliance, ECSchirmer, Cypress, and Rhythmic Trident, and a long list of commissions from individual choirs across North America, and from such entities as the National Youth Choir of Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Women’s Commissioning Consortium of the ACDA. Stephen’s work as both composer and pianist can be heard on dozens of CDs in commercial release, and his 1994 solo recording of classical piano miniatures, entitled “Kaleidoscope,” is available on all the popular music-purchasing platforms.