Stuart D.E. Ray is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and a graduate of Spring Valley High School. A former Director of Bands at E. L. Wright Middle School and Assistant Director of the Spring Valley High School Band, Stuart earned a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Instrumental Music Education and Performance Certificate from the University of South Carolina in 2009.
He currently serves as a part of the 246th Army National Guard Band here in South Carolina. Stuart plays with several different groups around Columbia, including the Soda City Brass Band and ColaJazz. Mr. Ray and his wife, Meghan, share a newborn daughter, Millie!

Stuart currently teaches on Mondays at Freeway Music Northeast and on Fridays at Freeway Music Downtown Columbia.