Alastair McAllister

Alastair McAllister (born Mildura, 3 August 1942) is an Australian harpsichord builder known for his historical integrity, design and workmanship, and for producing modern copies of instruments that closely match their prototypes in sound and touch.

Since September 1986, he has carried out his craft from a studio within the Community Work Society Co-operative Ltd, alongside a group of heritage artisans in the Melbourne suburb of Preston.

Since 1990, McAllister has served as the keyboard consultant to the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra,[8] and has built a two-manual French instrument for its artistic director, Paul Dyer.

[9] McAllister harpsichords are owned by such ensembles as The Sydney Consort,[10] and harpsichordists Peter Watchorn, Paul Dyer, Elizabeth Anderson, and Roger Heagney.

He was the first to demonstrate that stringing the early 20th century Pleyel harpsichord with classical wire and installing quill or delrin plectra yields a significant improvement in quality.