Alan Duff holds a Bachelor in Music Education from Trinity College Dublin, a Bachelor in Arts (Music) from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and has recently successfully completed a Masters in Arts (Music). As a clarinet player he has won awards for both solo playing and chamber music. Primarily an educator by profession Alan currently holds the position of Head of Music in Templeogue College Dublin. Alongside this he has worked for many years in the Artane School of Music. His career however also includes conducting, composing and arranging.
Alan began his conducting studies in 2006 and studied orchestral conducting with David Brophy and choral conducting with Hungarian conductor Katalin Kiss. His conducting engagements have brought him across Ireland, France and the UK with various wind ensembles and orchestras. He has worked with the Artane Band, Greystones Orchestra, Trinity Orchestra and Fingal Youth Orchestra, as well as working as rehearsal conductor for the City of Dublin Chamber Orchestra, Wexford Sinfonia and previously as part of the National Concert Hall’s Learn and Explore Department. Alan is also involved in Arts administration and has held the role of Chairperson of the City of Dublin Chamber Orchestra for many years. He is a member of the award winning Irish choir, Laetare Vocal Ensemble.
Alan is heavily associated with youth orchestras and ensembles throughout Ireland. He is currently the orchestra manager of the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble, a group with whom he has been working with for many years. He is connected with Dublin Youth Orchestra working as a wind tutor and conductor for both their chamber music courses and various orchestras. Alan is delighted to have been working with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland for many years and has been a member of the orchestra’s Board of Directors since 2017.