Mr Alister Allan has been appointed as anHonorary Life Member of Perth Youth Orchestra ahead of celebrations for itsDiamond Jubilee in 2022.
PYO President, Susannah Rae, announced the award of the honour recognising Mr Allan’s life-long commitment to the orchestra. Alister was the orchestra’s first leader (1962-64); a regular soloist with the orchestra throughout the sixties; a string tutor (1968-1975) and, for in a brief but decisive year (1968-69), he was the orchestra’s conductor.
That was the year the local authority ceded to growing demandsto offer instrumental tuition within the schools and for a musical coordinator tobe appointed.
Mr Allan said, “When it all started in 1962 there were manyfewer players than we have today. Sometimes we needed to substitute differentinstruments and transpose the orchestral parts – like the euphonium was used inplace of a French Horn. The orchestra was set up by enthusiastic music teachersand interested parents. The players had private lessons but there was none ofthe benefits we have nowadays where tuition is widely available and instrumentscan be borrowed.”
“Nowadays the orchestra enjoys the benefits brought by thelocal authorities well-structured progression of Central Music Groups – from elementary through junior and seniorgroups, through to its orchestras and bands. For many years now they have been seento be the best in the country.”
Mr Allan is passionate about music. He is a member of StNinian’s Cathedral Choir, Chanson and Perth Symphony Orchestra and contributesto many other ensembles as well as local operatic groups. Whilst Principal Teacherof Music at Blairgowrie High School his saw the development of the schools’ instrumentalmusic service. In recent years he has been on the front line at protest againstcuts to the service and the threat of increased fees.
“As a Life Member I look forward to starting a whole newchapter in my association with PYO. In a city famed for its musical festivalsand the arts it is a great honour to be invited to serve as an ambassador forits youngest musicians.”