Organist to play at church
United Methodist Community Churches will host a special organ recital on June 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Beallsville United Methodist Church, Route 40, by Dr. Alastair Stout. The Rev. Gary L. Gregg is pastor. Stout was born in 1975 and lives on the Shetland Isles off the North Coast of Scotland. He began playing the organ at age 10 and composing at age 12. His first work was published in 1990 and performed by the author in Ely Cathedral. Since that time, he has had more than 20 organ works published and performed throughout the United Kingdom. Stout held the Loretto School Organ Scholarship from 1991-93 in Edinburgh. He then studied at the Royal College of Music and obtained a master’s degree in composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Most recently, he graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London, with a doctorate in composition.
Stout has participated in various summer schools, including Sir Peter Maxell Davis Summer School, the Dartington International Summer School and the ECAT Workshop. His portfolio comprises a range of works from solo to orchestral, including vocal, ensemble and theatrical as well as choreographers at the London Contemporary School.
His works have been featured in the 1998 Spitalfields Festival, 19998 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, 1998 Norfolk and Norwick Festival, 200 Hoxton New Music Days, the Wesley’s Chapel Millennium Arts Festival and the 1999 Gregynog Festival where he was awarded the composer of Wales Award.
He has performed at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Ely Cathedral and many churches throughout Britain. From 1993-2001, he was assistant organist at Wesley’s Chapel in the City of London. In 2002, he came to the United States where he is serving as organist and director of music at the Coraopolis United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh.