A native of Merthyr Tydfil in S.Wales, Alun had his first professional appointment (age 20) as Co-Principal 2nd violin in the Bournemouth Sinfonietta during his final year as a student at the RNCM in Manchester.
At the RNCM he became the leader of the college symphony orchestra during his final year, soloist with the college chamber orchestra and concurrently, leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (conductor Arthur Davison) for four years, appearing on Welsh TV as a soloist in Vivaldi violin concertos.
After lessons with Terry Strachan and Neville John whilst a pupil at Cyfarthfa HIgh School, Merthyr Tydfil, and several years with James Barton (founder member and 2nd violinist of the original Allegri string quartet) at Cardiff University and two more with Israeli violinist Yossi Zivoni, in London, he continued under Zivoni’s tutelage at the RNCM and, in his final year, with Russian violinist Lydia Mordkovitch – a student of the great David Oistrakh.
During his time at college Alun was the recipient of the Cowen Prize for Violin.
Subsequently, as a professional musician he has played worldwide in many capacities with major orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Philharmonia orchestras, Britten Sinfonia, London Mozart Players and continues to perform as a leader, principal and section violinist, also as soloist with various professional freelance groups including a performance of the Beethoven violin concerto with the Buckingham based Orchestra of Stowe Opera.
He has given numerous recitals and chamber music concerts in the UK including a solo recital with piano for BBC Radio 3 in music by Bloch and Fritz Kreisler. Also a founder member of Triptych Piano Trio, commissioning several new works, Alun has played with other leading chamber groups including projects with the contemporary music ensemble, Smith String Quartet.
He ran his own group – Chamber Spectrum Ensemble for several years, giving recitals in lesser-known formats including one with Italian harpist and teacher Gabriella Dall’Olio, alongside more traditional pairings. These included a number of recitals throughout Wales and Southern England with the Welsh, Hastings-based pianist Francis Rayner, mainly in the great German and French sonata repertoire.
A lover of the Bach solo violin works, Alun has also given performances of the entire set of these six works in Cambridge and has plans to repeat the cycle in Windsor in February 2025.
Continuing to develop his solo work and innovative chamber music projects he has developed a growing reputation as an insightful pedagogue and committed teacher – working regularly with young students at various locations – Haileybury College in Hertfordshire. London music colleges including Trinity Laban Junior Conservatoire, and also writing about string playing for various periodicals.
His articles have included features about his psychophysical approach to playing and teaching for the STRAD magazine, also appearing as a guest on the STRAD ‘podcast’ talking about his work. He has also written several concert reviews for ‘Musical Opinion’ magazine.