Born in 1975, Alastair grew up in the Shetland Isles off the north East Coast of Scotland, UK. He studied at the Royal College of Music with Joseph Horovitz and Dr. John Birch (1993 - 1997), the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Robert Saxton (1997 - 98) and Royal Holloway, University of London with Simon Holt (1998 - 2001) where he graduated with a PhD in composition. Whilst in London he was assistant organist at Wesley’s Chapel, the Mother Church of World Methodism, and gave recitals at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Ely Cathedral, the Temple and St Brides Church, Fleet Street as well as throughout the UK.
Since moving to America in 2002 to take up the position of Music Director at the Coraopolis United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he has given recitals through out Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, New York and Iowa as well as presented workshops on new repertoire and composition. In 2007 he was invited to perform at the Morelia International Organ Festival in Mexico where his programme of 20th century music was hailed as a highlight of the 41st festival.
He has performed in collaborated with various artists including choreographers, painters, sculptors and photographers. He is also active as a producer being recently involved in recording two CDs from St Pauls Church in Akron, Ohio, and one from Waltham Abbey in Essex, UK.
As a composer he has written for almost every genre including an 80 minute chamber opera with a libretto by Jonathan Lennie based on the final flight of the Russian Astronaut, Vladimir Komarov. Recently he has completed commissions for the New London Children’s Choir, the Rothko String Trio, the University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and violinist Roger Zahab who performed his solo violin work A Reel Sweet Kiss in New York City and which was then broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland. His latest works, Cave Paintings for two pianos, a song-cycle: City of Passions and Poetry for soprano, piano and tape and Dragon at a Party for high voice and orchestra were all premiered in the UK and the USA to much acclaim. In 2005 he won the William Mathias Composition Composition Award and was a featured composer in the Kings Lynn Festival (UK).
Please see links page for list of works.