Stuart spent his early career as freelance with the Orchestra of English National Opera, the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the London Mozart Players. In 1990 he joined the Philharmonia Orchestra for a period of 17 years. Stuart more recently returned to Berkhamsted and now divides his time between performing - he works with several London orchestras and is leader of the Bridgewater Sinfonia - and teaching at Berkhamsted Collegiate School where he was once a pupil himself.