Biography

Alyson received her master’s with First Class Honours and Distinction in Flute Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, having studied with Karen Jones, Michael Cox, Patricia Morris (piccolo), Lisa Beznousiak (Baroque), and Gareth Lockrane (jazz). During her undergraduate studies in the United States, Alyson studied with renowned pedagogue Walfrid Kujala.

A multiple scholarship and prize winner, Alyson has been recognised as a “theatrical and compelling performer” who is “impressively accomplished with a beautiful singing tone.” Alyson has performed at several of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including the Royal Festival Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, King’s Place and LSO St Luke’s.

As an orchestral freelancer, Alyson is on the extra list for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and has worked with the BBC Concert Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Bath Philharmonia, and BBC3 and BBC4 Radio. Alyson is a founding member of London-based contemporary music group Ensemble x.y.

Alyson’s work in outreach has been internationally recognised, winning the Deutsche Bank Award for Creative Enterprise 2014 for her non-profit organisation Play for Progress, which delivers therapeutic and educational music programmes for children who are victims of conflict. Currently, the organisation runs a weekly #MakeSomeNoise music programme in partnership with the Refugee Council UK’s Children’s Section in Croydon and Orchestras for All, for the hundreds of unaccompanied teen refugees currently undergoing asylum applications in London.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

What’s on your playlist right now?
Sound of Siam Vol. 2, Thelonious Monk, Janáček Cunning Little Vixen, Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1, Edith Piaf, Huun-Huur-Tu, Paul Simon, Amalia Rodrigues, Anthem from Top Gun.

What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
I run Play for Progress, a charity I co-founded in 2014 which delivers therapeutic and educational music programmes for unaccompanied minor refugees. I like to scout out London’s ever-changing line up of bars and restaurants (though my favourites are the diners and cafes), and actively attempt to assimilate British culture through my ultimate guilty pleasure: Gogglebox.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us
I used to be a cross-dressing historical re-enactor!