Biography
Alan grew up surrounded by swamps near New Orleans in Louisiana. When it was time to begin school, his family moved to the state capital city of Baton Rouge, where he studied piano, violin, composition and viola. He also performed regularly with the Symphony Orchestra. Before commencing university studies, he played in Carnegie Hall and toured Europe with America’s Youth in Concert: a 100-piece orchestra and 200-voice choir. On completion of a double Bachelors degree, he came to New Zealand for an exploring holiday with the express intention of immigrating. While waiting for the decision from the Immigration Department, he completed a Masters degree in viola back at Louisiana State University.
At the beginning of 1984, Alan moved to Dunedin to start the string programme at John McGlashan School and began performing with the Dunedin Civic Orchestra as it was then known.
Alan has an interest in many types of music and has performed early music and a wide variety of folk music all over the country, including many dance festivals. He has also recorded and performed with many bands such as The Clean, The BATS, The 3Ds, MINK and The Puddle. His main instrument for these ventures is a custom-built 5-string semi-acoustic viola that is brightly painted and never taken to Sinfonia concerts. He has had compositions performed, sometimes with the Gamelan & STRORK – a string orchestra which specialises in improvisation, which he initiated in 1996.
He is active as a viola player with the DSO, busker, folk musician and string teacher.