Born in 1975 and living on the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland, Alastair began playing the organ at the age of 10 and composing at the age of 12.

His first work (for organ) was published in 1990 and was first performed by the author in Ely Cathedral. Since 1990, Alastair has had over 20 organ works published and performed in cathedrals throughout the UK; most notably Symphony in 3 movements (1997) in St Paul's Cathedral, Elegy (1998) in Westminster Abbey and Pentecostal Suite (1995) in Westminster Cathedral.

Alastair held the Loretto School Organ Scholarship from 1991 to 1993 in Edinburgh. He then studied composition and organ with Joseph Horowitz at the Royal College of Music (1993-97), followed by a Masters degree in composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the guidance of Robert Saxton (1997-98). He is currently studying at Royal Holloway, University of London with Simon Holt and, in 2001, is due to complete a PhD in composition. He has participated in various summer schools including the final Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Summer School on Hoy (1996), the Dartington International Summer School with Judith Weir (1999) and an ECAT workshop with James Macmillan (1996).

His portfolio comprises a range of works from solo to orchestral including vocal, ensemble and theatrical, as well as collaborating with choreographers at the London Contemporary Dance School. They have been performed in venues such as the Royal Festival hall, Sir Henry Wood Hall, the Reid Concert Hall and the Wigmore Hall, as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio Shetland.

His works have been featured in the 1998 Spitalfields Festival, the 1998 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the 1998 Norfolk and Norwich Festival and the 1999 Gregynog Festival where he was awarded the Gregynog Composer of Wales award for his String Quartet (1997-99). The music is strongly influenced by Shetland traditions and other composers who use folk music such as Ligeti and Bartok.

As an organist, performances specialise in 20th century repertoire and venues include St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Ely Cathedral and many other major churches in England and Scotland. Organ works have been written for him by composers such as Arthur Wills, Stephen Wilcox (USA) and Gordon Lawson.

He was assistant organist at Wesley’s Chapel from 1993 until - 2001., when he took up the position of Organist and Director of Music at Cornopolis United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh PA,USA.

Above text, photograph and list of works below from Alastair's website at -
 http://www.britishacademy.com/members/stout.htm

See Links page for further information.

Contact details:

Wesley Chapel,
49 City Road,
London
EC1Y 1AU

Tel: 0171 253 0672, pager: 04325 631757,
e-mail: alastair@stout.ndo.co.uk

During Christmas, Easter & August:
Edina,
Vidlin,
Shetland,
ZE2 9QB

Tel: 01806 577257