Dara Stewart

Dara was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland and has been involved in music since a very early age. Brought up by a family of musicians Dara began his musical life by playing the piano. As time went by he tried various other instruments such as violin and drums but in early 2003 he was introduced to electric bass by his father. Dara began lessons almost immediately with a family friend, Bobby Miller, and played in school and city Jazz Orchestras from his first day of high school.

In mid 2008 and approaching his last months of High School, Dara decided to pursue a professional career as a bassist. Having developed a strong foundation with his electric bass, he moved his focus to upright bass and began to study with one of Edinburgh’s leading teachers, May Halyburton. Shortly after beginning his studies with May he was offered a place at the City of Edinburgh Music School to study for a year before applying to music colleges.

Dara studied at CoEMS for around 3 months before being offered a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to study for his BMus (Hons), around a year and a half after he had begun his studies with May.

In September 2009 Dara began his studies in the RCS with his new teacher, David Pellar, as well as International Bass Fellow to the RCS, Thomas Martin. Throughout his first year, as well as working on his studies, Dara began to forge the foundations of a professional career. Dara frequently takes part in playing a variety of orchestral programmes with the RCS Symphony and RCS Chamber Orchestra as well as regularly working across the UK and Ireland for professional Musical Theatre productions. Companies Dara has worked for include, Michael Rose LTD, UK Theatre School, Music Theatre School of Scotland, Bard in the Botanics, MGA Theatre Company and many more.

In late 2010, alongside his studies at the RCS Dara was offered a place at the University of St Andrews to study a part-time advanced diploma in Jazz with internationally renowned saxophonist Richard Ingham and pianist Richard Michael.

Now in 2011 Dara is proud to be given the chance to endorse some of the best equipment in the world!

Dara is very honoured and privileged to be the worlds youngest endorser for the American amplification company Euphonic Audio. Dara would like to thank his main contact with the company, Barry Lamb, who has always been a great help and he hopes to continue working with Barry and the company for many years to come.

Dara has also been very lucky to earn the support of English Double Bass makers Thomas and George Martin, UK based instrument case makers Tom and Will as well as most recently being accepted as an endorsee for “The Bass Centre” using their own “Stadium Series” strings.

For more information about any of Dara’s endorsements please have a look at his “Gear” page.

2011 has also brought Dara the opportunity to further develop his electric bass playing with two of the UK’s most eclectic bassists, Laurence Cottle and Mario Caribe.

In June 2011 Dara now has the pleasure of working with a new Double Bass teacher Tom Berry

Dara will miss his studies with David Pellar however David has been offered a very prestigious position with the Royal Opera House in London and will soon be re-locating to London for the next season. Dara would like to wish David the best with the rest of his career and cannot thank him enough for the support and knowledge he has given him over the past two years. Dara knows he would not be the bassist he has become without him!