alistair bamford
Alistair studied in the UK and Canada. Following a career in print and audio publishing, including for the British Library Sound Archive, he trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
As a singer he is a bass baritone. He also plays violin and electric violin, viola and piano.
Alistair has performed from Aberdeen to Zagreb and the Far East to the West Coast. He has embraced opera, oratorio, recitals, recordings and broadcasts, across a spectrum from the major classical works to contemporary music, improvisation and readings.
For Alistair’s biography click HERE
For sample recital programme click HERE
Alistair’s teachers have had a major influence on how he works today, beginning with HA Bate (choirmaster), pioneering educationalist Kurt Rokos (violin), and the legendary Esther Salaman (voice). His understanding of the physiology of the voice is rooted in the Estill Voice Method, and his approach to technique, repertoire and interpretation ranges from bel canto to the extended voice ideas of Roy Hart and Paul Newham.
Alistair teaches voice, violin, piano and theory. He believes that each contributes to an understanding of the others. Similarly, working with people of different ages and abilities allows him to identify issues and make connections that enhance his work with individuals and with groups – for example in relation to breathing, support, bowing and phrasing. His interest in improvisation again provides different perspectives and tools for encouraging creativity, understanding and ownership.
Alistair has extensive experience as an improviser and animateur, facilitating music-making and performance among different groups from school children to the elderly and people with dementia. His capacity for flexibility, spontaneity and responsiveness, and encouraging the development in each pupil of a personal philosophy of music and performing, was acknowledged in the awarding in 2019 of Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
For further information about teaching and outreach click HERE
For comments and quotes click HERE
Building on his experience as a creative musician and animateur, Alistair has been commissioned to write reports on singing, music and wellbeing programmes. A particular area of expertise has been work with people with dementia, and related musician training.
There is now a wide-spread recognition of the capacity of music to improve lives in terms of social, cultural, educational, physical and mental wellbeing. There is little consideration however, beyond playing other peoples’ music, of the role of creative musicians (as distinct from teachers or therapists) in enhancing wellbeing.
There is also very limited awareness of the potentially coercive and controlling history and culture of classical music, for example in relation to wealth, race, gender and education. This underpins Alistair’s concern with the relationship between individual identity and group music-making. He has been offered places for a PhD to investigate the subject, and is undertaking a series of scoping interviews for a related book project.
For further information about Alistair’s research and publications click HERE
For a draft research proposal click HERE
Alistair revels in words and the sound of words. Text underpins his approach to singing, and he has written during his performing career, but since experiencing cancer he realised that if he is to take his writing to another level it needs to happen now. Covid provided further impetus to this major new direction.
Pretty creatures is a book of poems created in collaboration with printmaker John Clarke, and was published in 2021. Within a lyrical and sometimes confessional tone it is concerned with language, writing, learning to write, and the responsibility of the reader. The first edition has sold out and will be propping up wonky tables around the world, but there are a few copies available with a small binding mistake, for the price of post & packing. Maybe these will be the valuable copies in years to come, maybe not – please get in touch if you would like one.
Poems and images from Pretty creatures can be found HERE
An ‘Apologia’ accompanying Pretty creatures is available HERE
For examples of recent poems click HERE
For extracts from The Blazing World (libretto) click HERE
Alistair continues to welcome oratorio and recital opportunities. Since Covid he has refocused his interests and activities including a return to contemporary repertoire, and new collaborations as a performer and writer.
In addition to continuing his teaching at the New London Performing Arts Centre and in Cambridge, Alistair undertakes one-to-one and group teaching, coaching and mentoring, workshops and masterclasses, and adjudication.
Over the last year Alistair has appeared as a Supporting Artist and Musician for TV and film including The Great, The Crown, and projects by Danny Boyle, George Clooney, and Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Alistair plays viola with the Craxton Quartet. He was pleased to discover that viola jokes reputedly originate in a comment by music historian Charles Burney about violinist, and latterly violist, Francesco Geminiani, who was ‘so wild and unsteady a timist, that instead of regulating and conducting the band, he threw it into confusion.’
Alistair studied in the UK and Canada. Following a career in print and audio publishing, including for the British Library Sound Archive, he trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
As a singer he is a bass baritone. He also plays violin and electric violin, viola and piano.
Alistair has performed from Aberdeen to Zagreb and the Far East to the West Coast. He has embraced opera, oratorio, recitals, recordings and broadcasts, across a spectrum from the major classical works to contemporary music, improvisation and readings.
For Alistair’s biography click HERE
Alistair’s teachers have had a major influence on how he works today, beginning with HA Bate (choirmaster), pioneering educationalist Kurt Rokos (violin), and the legendary Esther Salaman (voice). His understanding of the physiology of the voice is rooted in the Estill Voice Method, and his approach to technique, repertoire and interpretation ranges from bel canto to the extended voice ideas of Roy Hart and Paul Newham.
Alistair teaches voice, violin, piano and theory. He believes that each contributes to an understanding of the others. Similarly, working with people of different ages and abilities allows him to identify issues and make connections that enhance his work with individuals and with groups – for example in relation to breathing, support, bowing and phrasing. His interest in improvisation again provides different perspectives and tools for encouraging creativity, understanding and ownership.
Alistair has extensive experience as an improviser and animateur, facilitating music-making and performance among different groups from school children to the elderly and people with dementia. His capacity for flexibility, spontaneity and responsiveness, and encouraging the development in each pupil of a personal philosophy of music and performing, was acknowledged in the awarding in 2019 of Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
For further information about teaching and outreach click HERE
For comments and quotes click HERE
Building on his experience as a creative musician and animateur, Alistair has been commissioned to write reports on singing, music and wellbeing programmes. A particular area of expertise has been work with people with dementia, and related musician training.
There is now a wide-spread recognition of the capacity of music to improve lives in terms of social, cultural, educational, physical and mental wellbeing. There is little consideration however, beyond playing other peoples’ music, of the role of creative musicians (as distinct from teachers or therapists) in enhancing wellbeing.
There is also very limited awareness of the potentially coercive and controlling history and culture of classical music, for example in relation to wealth, race, gender and education. This underpins Alistair’s concern with the relationship between individual identity and group music-making. He has been offered places for a PhD to investigate the subject, and is undertaking a series of scoping interviews for a related book project.
For further information about Alistair’s research and publications click HERE
For a draft research proposal click HERE
Alistair revels in words and the sound of words. Text underpins his approach to singing, and he has written during his performing career, but since experiencing cancer he realised that if he is to take his writing to another level it needs to happen now. Covid provided further impetus to this major new direction.
Pretty creatures is a book of poems created in collaboration with printmaker John Clarke, and was published in 2021. Within a lyrical and sometimes confessional tone it is concerned with language, writing, learning to write, and the responsibility of the reader. The first edition has sold out and will be propping up wonky tables around the world, but there are a few copies available with a small binding mistake, for the price of post & packing. Maybe these will be the valuable copies in years to come, maybe not – please get in touch if you would like one.
Poems and images from Pretty creatures can be found HERE
An ‘Apologia’ accompanying Pretty creatures is available HERE
For examples of recent poems click HERE
Alistair continues to welcome oratorio and recital opportunities. Since Covid he has refocused his interests and activities including a return to contemporary repertoire, and new collaborations as a performer and writer.
In addition to continuing his teaching at the New London Performing Arts Centre and in Cambridge, Alistair undertakes one-to-one and group teaching, coaching and mentoring, workshops and masterclasses, and adjudication.
Over the last year Alistair has appeared as a Supporting Artist and Musician for TV and film including The Great, The Crown, and projects by Danny Boyle, George Clooney, and Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Alistair plays viola with the Craxton Quartet. He was pleased to discover that viola jokes reputedly originates in a comment by music historian Charles Burney about violinist, and latterly violist, Francesco Geminiani, who was ‘so wild and unsteady a timist, that instead of regulating and conducting the band, he threw it into confusion.’
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