Alan was born in London in 1952 and educated in Essex. He read Mathematics and Music at Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge followed by Postgraduate Studies in Education at the University of London, Institute of Education. He was appointed Assistant teacher of Music at King Edward VII School Sheffield and became Head of the Music Department in 1980.
In 1986, he became Conductor of the Sheffield Oratorio Chorus and has established a thriving and versatile choir. In 1987, he decided to work as a freelance musician. In addition to his considerable ability as a conductor, he has acquired a well deserved reputation as a keyboard player (piano, harpsichord and organ) and is in considerable demand throughout the region as a soloist and as an accompanist. He is a member of staff of the Sheffield Music School and is a teacher of piano at the University of Sheffield..
He was appointed our Director of Music in 2005.