After studying at both Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, Alastair returned to his native North East and has since developed a reputation as a versatile musician in high demand across many musical fields. He is a well-regarded brass teacher, trumpeter, composer, and conductor of ensembles from orchestras and choirs to community and educational groups.

His first conducting appointment was for Riding Mill Choral Society (2007 – 14) and he went on to co-found the Ponteland Community Wind Band a year later. This band has grown to around 50 musicians of all ages and abilities, performing at community events across the region. He further developed his skills as musical director of the Tyneside Chamber Orchestra (2013 – 2022) and was appointed principle conductor of the Northumberland Orchestra in 2014. The orchestra has been revitalised under his leadership and has built a reputation as a high-quality amateur symphony orchestra, performing major works on a regular basis. Highlights are too many to mention but include Beethoven’s 9^th and Mahler’s 1^st & 4^th symphonies.

Other engagements include assistant conductor at Orchestra North East and guest conductor at All Saints Choir, the Tynedale Orchestra and other local groups.  He relishes the unique challenge and sense of collective endeavor that comes from working with amateur musicians, always striving to enthuse and encourage each other to produce high quality performances to be proud of.

In 2018 he was appointed musical director of Ryton Choral Society, replacing long standing conductor David Murray. Notable performances include Bach’s St John’s Passion, Brahms German Requiem and a semi-staged production of Mascagni’s opera, Cavalleria Rusticana for which he wrote a completely new reduced orchestration for only 12 players. He is a busy orchestrator, arranger and composer, often writing new material for the groups he conducts.

As a trumpeter, Alastair is equally at home in many genres from classical orchestras to jazz ensembles. He is lead trumpet in the sought-after Northern Monkey Brass Band (a New Orleans inspired group) and the New Century Ragtime Orchestra. He was principal trumpet of the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra for a number of years, plays with Orchestra North East and performs regularly for choral societies and musical theatre shows. Solo engagements include recitals at Newcastle Cathedral and Northumbria University with accompanist Kris Thomsett.

Away from music, he is a keen photographer and can often be found sleeping rough on the top of a Cumbrian or Scottish mountain hoping for the perfect dawn shot!