Junior Alan Stewart has won First Prize in the solo marimba category at the Fifth International Competition of Composition and Performance for Percussion Instruments and Drumset. The competition, which draws participants from Europe, Asia and elsewhere, is sponsored by the Conservatorio di Musica "G.B. Pergolesi" in Fermo, Italy, in collaboration with the Italian chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. It was part of Italy's annual Giornate della Percussione [Days of Percussion] conference. Stewart is a student of Michael Burritt, James Ross, Joel Spencer, and Ruben Alvarez. 

A native of Missouri City, TX, Stewart began percussion studies at age 11. He has concentrated on marching percussion and marimba. In 2004 he received a first place ranking at the 2004 PASIC Marching Festival Keyboard Competition for high school students and in 2006 won First Prize in the International Marimba Competition for Young Musicians in the age 14-20 category.