Ștefan Barbu studied violin at the National University of Music, Bucharest. Since 2000 he has been a violinist with the Radio Chamber Orchestra in Bucharest. He has performed with the Georges Enesco Philharmonic Orchestra on numerous occasions. He was a member of the Academy Choir (later renamed Kontakion) between 1995 and 1998. He has also been a member of the Musica Selecta choir (which performed live background music for the play Saragossa 66 Days at the Odeon Theatre between 1998 and 2000), the Rules for Graces baroque instrumental ensemble, and the Sartorious Ensemble, a baroque vocal group (1999), the Modus Antiqus early music instrumental ensemble and the Arioso Quartet (between 2002 and 2005).