Graduate of Berklee College of Music (summa cum laude) and Mannes College for Jazz and Contemporary Music(New School University).
Endorsed by Sadowsky, Fodera and Lakland basses, Epifani speakers and LaBella strings.
Voting member of the Recording Academy (the Grammys)Music Director for Grammy nominated vocalist Marty Thomas (“Wickedâ€,â€Black Nativityâ€; www.Martythomas.com). Music Director for Chaplin Entertainment/Warner artist, outstanding vocalist Kelly King (www.kellykingsings.com).Music Director for Billboard Top 40 artist, vocalist Ari Gold (www.arigold.com).Music Director for New York's Funk/Jamband "Lucille's Mixed Nuts" (www.myspace.com/lucillesmixednuts).Played with Grammy winner Mike Stern, Saxophone legend Oliver Lake and drummer Joe Chambers.
Appeared at festivals in the US (JVC-jazz festival; Boston jazz festival), Japan (headlined the Ballentines festival in Tokyo), Korea (Trad.Korean Jazz and Folk Festival in Seoul; headlined the Monk festival in Pusan) and Austria (Donauinsel Rock festival; Jazz festival Wiesen; headlined the Jazz Sommer Graz festival www.jazzsommergraz.at ).
Performed on MTV, VH1, CBS, KBS (Korea), Munwa(Japan) and ORF (Austria) to name a few.
Produced and/or recorded for BMG, Warner Brothers and Columbia Records among others.
Publications: Bass Player Magazin; SA Bass Players Collective(http://www.bassplayers.co.za/interviewstefan-held .html)
Musicals:"Brooklyn-the musical"(1st nationl tour); on Broadway: “Hairsprayâ€, "Mama Mia", "Jersey Boys", â€Lennon†Off-Broadway and regional: â€Little shop of Horrorsâ€, â€Secret Gardenâ€, â€The great American Trailer Park musicalâ€, â€Bat Boy-the musicalâ€, â€The joys of sexâ€, â€Mother Devineâ€, â€Streakinâ€, â€Zanna don’tâ€, â€Urban Cowboyâ€, â€Always, Patsy Clineâ€, "Are we there yet? " ; "Neil Berg's 100 years of Broadway"
TV, Movie Soundtracks, Jingles: Discovery Channel ("Road Trip"); FOX ("Union Jackass"); "Home Room" MOR Entertainment, 2003 Directed by Paul F. Ryan. Starring Busy Phillips, Erika Christensen, and Victor Garber; VPR Creative Group ("Building our future together", EISAI human health care) ; "Bay state Blues" ( Allyson Sereboff), 2008
Affiliated artist faculty member at Sarah Lawrence College.
Local 802 member.
“Stefan is an awesome bassist with amazing musicianshipâ€
(Grammy winner Julie Gold)
“He just burns, man, he’s a real mother******â€
(Grammy winner Mike Stern)