work at the New England Conservatory. He then moved to New York City to pursue further vocal studies with Cornelius Reid and Frederick Jagel. For the next few years he supported himself in New York mainly by working as a music teacher and church choral conductor while only performing occasionally. By the late 1960s he was performing full-time. Professional career Stewart made his professional opera debut in 1964 in the small role of the manservant in Alban Berg's Lulu at the Santa Fe Opera (SFO). He returned to the SFO frequently over the next decade, appearing first in supporting parts like Yarizhkin in the United States premiere of Dmitri Shostakovich's The Nose (1965), the Cavalier in the United States premiere of Paul Hindemith's Cardillac (1967), the Landlord in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier (1968), and Gastone in La traviata (1968). His first role at the SFO of any considerable size was that of Narraboth in Strauss' Salome in 1967; which he later repeated with the company in 1969, 1972, and 1978. Other leading roles he sang in Santa Fe during his early career were Pinkerton in Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly (1968, 1972), 'One of the Called' in the United States premiere of Arnold Schoenberg's Die Jakobsleiter (1968), Ferrando in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Così fan tutte (1969), and De Laubardemont in the American premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki The Devils of Loudun (1969). He later returned to Santa Fe as Filotero in the United States premiere of Francesco Cavalli's L'Orione (1983), Baron Lummer in Strauss' Intermezzo (1983), Count Elemer in Strauss' Arabella (1983), Guido Bardi in Alexander von Zemlinsky's Eine florentinische Tragödie (1984), Matteo in Erich Korngold's Violanta (1984), and Sebastian in the world premiere of John Eaton's The Tempest (1985). In 1968 Stewart made his debut at the New York City Opera as Andrew, the Highlander, in the world premiere of Hugo Weisgall's Nine Rivers from Jordan. His first major role with the company came the following year as Vladimir in Alexander Borodin's Prince Igor with Julian Patrick in the title role and Julius Rudel conducting. He was committed to the NYCO up through 1974, performing in such parts as Tamino in The Magic Flute (1969, 1970, 1973), Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1969, 1970), Edgardo in Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (1969), Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville (1971), the title role in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring (1971),