Minde's professional career began at the Opera at Frankfurt/Main, Germany, where he was assistant conductor under Sir George Solti. He continued as First Conductor at the Staatstheater Wiesbaden under Maestro Wolfgang Sawallisch, and at the Civic Theater Trier.

Stefan Minde came to the United States in 1968 - for six weeks - to conduct at the Berkshire Festival at Tanglewood, Massachusetts upon the invitation of Maestro Erich Leinsdorf. These 6 weeks proved to become more than half a lifetime: after several engagements with San Francisco Opera under the legendary impressario Kurt Herbert Adler, Minde was invited to become General Director and Conductor with the Portland Opera which, under his direction, made the list of the 10 best opera companies in the United States (Martin Bernheimer, Los Angeles Times and Opernwelt - Switzerland and Germany). For his services to the community he received in 1982 the City Beautification Award from the City of Portland, and in the same year the Award for Contribution to Opera in the United States from the National Opera Association.

After leaving Portland Opera, Minde founded in 1990 the Sinfonia Concertante Orchestra, a professional chamber orchestra whose reputation as an outstanding group has grown since its foundation.

As visiting professor Minde presented conducting classes at Portland State University and Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. He has also led conducting classes and opera workshops at Florida State University, Marylhurst College in Portland, Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, Portland State University, and Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

As guest conductor of Opera and Concert Stefan Minde is traveling throughout the USA, Canada, Germany, Portugal and Japan. His most recent guest conducting engagements were the Wagner Festivals in Flagstaff 1996 and 1998 (with the Arizona Opera) to conduct the Ring Cycle, and Knoxville Tennessee Opera to conduct Wagner's The Flying Dutchman.

Stefan Minde lives with his wife Edith in Portland, Oregon.