Alastair Penman

Hailed as a “pioneering instrumentalist and writer” and praised for his “exceptionally beautiful music” and “undeniably brilliant mind”, British saxophonist Alastair Penman is a dynamic and versatile performer and composer, presenting contemporary music in exciting new ways. With an MSc in Information and Computer Engineering (University of Cambridge) and an MA in Saxophone Performance (Royal Northern College of Music), Alastair is keenly interested in fusing live saxophone performance with electronic effects, media and enhancements, to create sound worlds often previously unknown.

Although classically trained, Alastair enjoys exploring a wide range of musical worlds; these influences are reflected in his compositions and performances, which often transcend genre definitions.

As a soloist, Alastair has performed at venues including St Martin-in-the-Fields, St John's Smith Square, Milton Court and Trinity College Chapel. He was invited to give a recital at the RNCM and Canterbury Christ Church University Saxophone Days, as well as the 2017 European Saxophone Congress and the 2018 World Saxophone Congress, where he performed tracks from his debut album, Electric Dawn (Sospiro Records), which was also broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Alastair's latest album, Do You Hear Me? (Sospiro Records), which focuses on the climate emergency, has been described by critics as “groundbreaking”, “a superb blend of sounds” and “damn good music”.

As part of an ensemble, Alastair leads the award-winning Borealis Saxophone Quartet, with whom he has given numerous live performances on BBC Radio 3, and also plays baritone saxophone with the Kaleidoscope Saxophone Quartet. Alastair has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Contemporary Orchestra and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. He has performed with jazz groups at the Montreux and London Jazz Festivals, and in jazz clubs across Europe.

As a composer, Alastair has been commissioned by organizations such as Park Lane Group, RVW Trust and City Music Foundation, and his compositions can be heard on commercial recordings. Alastair's works have been widely performed in the UK, and have also been performed in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australasia. Over a dozen of Alastair's compositions are published by Saxtet Publications, and many more are self-published. A number of his compositions appear in the ABRSM and Trinity Saxophone Syllabus programs.

As an educator, Alastair teaches saxophone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and regularly gives lessons at Benslow Music. He has been a guest teacher with the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and has taught students at Cambridge University and Liverpool University. Internationally, Alastair has given masterclasses at UCLA and Cal State Fullerton (USA) and, in the UK, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Northern College of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Alastair was editor, notation specialist and model for John Harle's reference book The Saxophone (Faber). Alastair runs a YouTube channel, Saxophone Resources, which contains teaching resources and receives over 40,000 views each month (and has exceeded 3 million views in total).

Alastair is a City Music Foundation, Park Lane Group, BBC Introducing and Live Music Now artist. He is a member of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and has received awards from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, RNCM and St.Alastair is a Vandoren UK recording artist.