Stuart Riley is an Anglo/Australian double bass player. He was born in Manchester and started his musical journey aged 8 as a cellist. His first concert was Noyes Fludde at Manchester University while composer Benjamin Britten was still alive.

In his teens Stuart switched to the double bass and was taught by Mike Calder and Diana Milner – both principal bassists with the Halle Orchestra. His first professional engagement was with the Halle conducted by James Loughran. At that time most of the bass section lived and worked through the John Barbirolli years. Sir John was also a cellist and played Tosca at La Scala with Puccini in the room – little did he know it but at the age of 18 Stuart was two degrees of musical separation from Puccini and La Scala. The concertmaster at the time was Martin Milner who’s first wife was Sir William Walton’s daughter – Martin referred to him as Uncle Willie! The Halle was a wonderful introduction to the world of professional music.

After studying in Birmingham with John Tattersdill and Tony Morgan Stuart moved to London where he worked as a free lancer with groups including Pimlico/Grange Park Opera, Orchestra da Camera. In London Stuart studied with Duncan McTier.

In 1996 Stuart moved to Sydney to work with the Sydney and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras (TSO), Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australia Ensemble and film/recording sessions.

Next stop was Melbourne in 1999 where Stuart was a regular casual with the Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria and film recording sessions. Teaching included Melbourne Conservatorium and Melbourne Youth Orchestra.

In 2010 Stuart returned to the UK where he was a regular performed with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Opera North, Welsh National Opera and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.

Stuart hopes the last stop on his musical journey was to move back to Melbourne in 2013, with MSO, TSO, OV, The Firebird Trio plus teaching and recording. From 2017-2024 Stuart was appointed principal bass with OV.

Stuart is fortunate to have worked with the Beach Boys, John Farnham, Bryn Terfel, Willard White, Lynn Harrell, Tim Hugh, Truls Mork, Daniel Muller-Schott, Peter Wispelway, Michael Collins, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Richard Bonynge, John Corigliano, Tan Dun, Mark Elder, Richard Hickox, Christopher Hogwood, Andrew Litton, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Roger Norrington, Christopher Seaman, Robin Ticciati, Mark Wigglesworth, Sir David Willcocks, John Wilson, Simone Young, Dame Janet Baker, Stephen Kovacevich, John Lill, Howard Shelley, Delta Goodram, Susan Bullock, Judith Durham, Lisa Garsteen, Jonas Kaufman, Yvonne Kenny, Emma Matthews, Andrea Bocelli, James Morrison, Nicola Bernedetti, James Ehnes, Nigel Kennedy, Gil Shaham, Baiba Skride, Christian Tatzlaff, Richard Tognetti and Frank Peter Zimmerman

Stuart is passionate about quality stringed instruments. He performs on a Milanese bass c1770 and a John Lott I made in Seven Dials, close to the Royal Opera Covent Garden in 1830. In 2023 he founded PODtriangle – a charity to find quality instruments for Australian performers who cannot afford them.