Alan performing at the "Spree Festival" in 2018
EDUCATION
Alan studied with the composer Sir John Tavener before taking up a place as an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music in London, (studying composition with Jeremy Dale-Roberts and piano with Ian Lake and, in seminar groups with Brian Eno and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies), he then accepting a scholarship to study as a postgraduate in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and then gained a Masters (with distinction) in "Music and the Environment" from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
As a member of the "Mercury Musical Workshop" he was mentored by the composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
He also studied on the film music course at the London International Film School
Alan is the recipient of an honorary Fellowship from the Guild of Musicians and Singers, a Creative Scotland Award (2021), and recently financial support from the Musicians Union and the Hope Scott Trust.
COMPOSING
He has composed music for symphony orchestras, music for film and television, three operas, music for the stage, and has performed around the world as a pianist/accompanist and session musician, and has conducted numerous choirs and orchestras.
His orchestral music has been performed by, amongst others, the : Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra, London Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia of London,
Kensington Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra.
His ensemble music has been performed by, amongst others: Psappha Ensemble, Belcea Quartet, Edinburgh Quartet, Maxwell Quartet, Paragon Ensemble, Croft Ensemble, Bonington Ensemble
His operas and vocal music has been performed by: Scots Opera Project, City of Birmingham Choir, Ayrshire Opera, London Voices, Kilmarmock District Choral Society, Renfrew Trinity Choir, Morley College Choir, Napier Chamber Choir, Langbank Singers, The Oran Consort, Sherwood Youth Choir as well as many amateur choirs around the country.
Alan has also composed music for theatre, film, and television including :
Fully Booked (BBC), A Different Kind of Christmas ( Channel Four Film), Pantoland (BBC), Edinburgh Uncovered (BBC), and for the feature film
released later this year entitled “Where Demons Hide”.
PERFORMING
Theatre credits as a keyboard player include :
Cats (West End), 42nd Street (National Tour), Les Miserables (Palace Theatre), The Full Monty (Eastwood Park Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Hamilton
Theatre), and for PMOS at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow : Copacabana, The King and I , and Hairspray.
As a musical director Alan’s credits include :
Telling Tales (Edinburgh Festival), Forbidden (Grand Opera House, York), Starlight Express (West End) , Cats (West End), The Hired Man (Scottish Tour), and
Divided We Fall (London Production and two Scottish productions).
He has also performed in various concerts as both soloists and accompanist around the world in a variety of styles of music - from classical recitals to children's concerts.
TEACHING
Teaching posts have included : classroom teacher at Collingham College, London, Lecturer at the Chelsea and Westminster College, Tutor at the junior department of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, lecture in adult and continuing education at Morley College, London and he currently teaches piano, composition, and music theory privately.
ORGANIST
He was previously the organist at Renfrew Trinity Church for nine years, then subsequently at St James' Church, Paisley and is currently the organist and choir-master at St George's Church in Paisley.
He is also the artistic director, and founder of, the Tannahill Arts Festival, (https://www.tannahillarts.com/)
Alan studied with the composer Sir John Tavener before taking up a place as an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music in London, (studying composition with Jeremy Dale-Roberts and piano with Ian Lake and, in seminar groups with Brian Eno and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies), he then accepting a scholarship to study as a postgraduate in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and then gained a Masters (with distinction) in "Music and the Environment" from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
As a member of the "Mercury Musical Workshop" he was mentored by the composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
He also studied on the film music course at the London International Film School
Alan is the recipient of an honorary Fellowship from the Guild of Musicians and Singers, a Creative Scotland Award (2021), and recently financial support from the Musicians Union and the Hope Scott Trust.
COMPOSING
He has composed music for symphony orchestras, music for film and television, three operas, music for the stage, and has performed around the world as a pianist/accompanist and session musician, and has conducted numerous choirs and orchestras.
His orchestral music has been performed by, amongst others, the : Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra, London Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia of London,
Kensington Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra.
His ensemble music has been performed by, amongst others: Psappha Ensemble, Belcea Quartet, Edinburgh Quartet, Maxwell Quartet, Paragon Ensemble, Croft Ensemble, Bonington Ensemble
His operas and vocal music has been performed by: Scots Opera Project, City of Birmingham Choir, Ayrshire Opera, London Voices, Kilmarmock District Choral Society, Renfrew Trinity Choir, Morley College Choir, Napier Chamber Choir, Langbank Singers, The Oran Consort, Sherwood Youth Choir as well as many amateur choirs around the country.
Alan has also composed music for theatre, film, and television including :
Fully Booked (BBC), A Different Kind of Christmas ( Channel Four Film), Pantoland (BBC), Edinburgh Uncovered (BBC), and for the feature film
released later this year entitled “Where Demons Hide”.
PERFORMING
Theatre credits as a keyboard player include :
Cats (West End), 42nd Street (National Tour), Les Miserables (Palace Theatre), The Full Monty (Eastwood Park Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Hamilton
Theatre), and for PMOS at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow : Copacabana, The King and I , and Hairspray.
As a musical director Alan’s credits include :
Telling Tales (Edinburgh Festival), Forbidden (Grand Opera House, York), Starlight Express (West End) , Cats (West End), The Hired Man (Scottish Tour), and
Divided We Fall (London Production and two Scottish productions).
He has also performed in various concerts as both soloists and accompanist around the world in a variety of styles of music - from classical recitals to children's concerts.
TEACHING
Teaching posts have included : classroom teacher at Collingham College, London, Lecturer at the Chelsea and Westminster College, Tutor at the junior department of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, lecture in adult and continuing education at Morley College, London and he currently teaches piano, composition, and music theory privately.
ORGANIST
He was previously the organist at Renfrew Trinity Church for nine years, then subsequently at St James' Church, Paisley and is currently the organist and choir-master at St George's Church in Paisley.
He is also the artistic director, and founder of, the Tannahill Arts Festival, (https://www.tannahillarts.com/)