Alastair has been involved in sacred choral groups since the age of six. He was a boy treble at Christchurch Cathedral. Subsequent organ scholarships to Nelson and Wellington Cathedrals eventuated in a degree in organ performance from the School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington. Alastair also holds diplomas in vocal technique and performance.
Alastair has performed with all of New Zealand's top vocal groups: The Tudor Consort, Voices New Zealand, and Baroque Voices to name a few. He was Assistant Director of Music at Wellington Cathedral from 2000 through 2004 and worked extensively with both the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Voices, a community choir based at the Cathedral. He frequently appears as a vocal soloist, particularly in early music performances; recent highlights include Purcell's Arise, my muse with St Paul's Baroque, Handel's Messiah with the Choir of Wellington Cathedral, Monteverdi's Vespers and Mendelssohn's Psalms with the Orpheus Choir of Wellington, and Mendelssohn's Die erste Walpurgisnacht with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared in masterclasses with Dame Gillian Weir on baroque organ performance, Professor Richard Miller on vocal technique and Professor Anton Armstrong on choral conducting.
Alastair's work with choirs has met with critical acclaim nationally and multiple awards internationally. He has toured New Zealand twice with specialist 20th century eight voice vocal ensemble Sings Harry and guided that group to silver and double gold awards at The International Choir Olympics in 2002. In 2003 he directed The Tudor Consort in award winning performances at The 35th Tolosa International Choral Competition. The choir returned to Tolosa in 2005, winning two more awards at the 37th Competition, and also performing recitals in Spain, Austria and Italy and Masses at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and San Pietro at the Vatican.
Alastair directed The Tudor Consort for six years. He moved to England in 2006 to continue his study and practice of early music in London.
"A conspicuously gifted choral conductor" - The Dominion Post
"Carey … combines diverse experience as a singer with taste, scholarship, expressiveness and an ability to inspire others" - The Evening Post
"Wellington's superb chamber choir … under Alastair Carey's inspired guidance" - The Dominion Post
