Camborne Youth Band

After a long association as Principal Cornet player with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Alan Morrison FTCL LRAM held a similar position with the world famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band until December 2006 when he was appointed Musical Director. He is also a founder member of the widely acclaimed brass group, SONAR Brass which is a brass band based quintet.

He continues to be in great demand as a soloist having travelled the world appearing in Australia several times, extensively in Europe and to the USA as well as the length and breadth of Great Britain featuring in many festivals and gala concerts including the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

He is a frequent tutor on Summer Schools and regularly acts as Cornet Tutor to the National Youth Bands of Great Britain and Switzerland and has lectured on the brass band courses of several colleges and musical institutions.

An experienced music examiner for the ABRSM, he also visits educational establishments giving recitals, master classes and external examining, and has adjudicated brass band contests at all levels at home and abroad including the National Championships of both Australia and New Zealand and the US Open.

His conducting career has been very successful since his first appointment at the age of 17, with several bands rising through the sections under his guidance and frequent appearances as Guest Conductor with several famous bands. Alan has recorded 7 solo albums and pioneered a teaching video that has proven very successful. He also regularly features on light music recordings for the BBC with various ensembles including big bands and orchestras.

Alan was appointed Musical Advisor of Camborne Youth Band in 2004 and works with the Band several times a year in preparation for contests, concerts and recordings.

Alan was born in Redruth in 1961 and began learning to play the cornet at the young age of 5 years with Tommy Martin at Lanner. He joined Carharrack and St Day Band and then moved to St Austell Town Band, competing in the National Finals with them.

Alan also played in numerous solo contests throughout Cornwall and the South West with major success and in 1974 he joined Camborne Town Band, remaining there until 1977 when he joined the Army. Alan spent two years training at the Band of the RAC Junior Leaders Regiment in Borington, Dorset, and was posted to Germany in 1979 with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Band.

He later studied at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall under Professor Ian McKintosh and was awarded the prestigious Cousins Memorial Parchment for exceptional proficiency on the cornet. He was principal cornet for 6 years and was also Commanding Officers Trumpeter. This gave him the opportunity to travel throughout the world and play at numerous prestigious occasions in front of the Royal Family and dignitaries.

In January 1999 he took the position of Musical Director of Camborne Youth Band. At it's lowest ebb for many years, with just 7 full members and 8 beginners, Alan provided presentations at local schools and was responsible for raising the establishment to over 80 members where it has steadily remained ever since.

In May 2002, he was awarded the Camborne Town Council Plaque for services to music with the youth of Camborne Youth Band. Under his direction, the band have not only gained Cornish and South West titles, but five consecutive National titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Further to this, Alan formed Camborne 'B' Band as a way to encourage players to develop their skills further and act as a stepping stone between the Youth and Senior Bands.

Since 2003 Alan has been a tutor with the Cornwall Youth Brass Band. In 2004 he became a tutor at the Wessex Band Summer School and in the same year Alan was awarded the Cornish Gorseth Trevada Shield for the encouragement of music making by young people. Alan was also crowned 'Cornwall's Best Contributor to Music' in 2007 by St Austell Brewery and Pirate FM.