Alan Fernie was born and brought up in the Scots mining village of Newtongrange, where he learned to play the trombone both at school and with the local brass band. After studying music in Glasgow and London, he has worked extensively as a teacher and conductor throughout the UK and beyond.
His first compositions and arrangements were written whilst he was still a student, and his music for brass is now performed, published, and recorded all over the world. He is Writer in Residence to two acclaimed charities – “Boobs and Brass” and “Brass for Africa”, with whom he has worked in Uganda.
In 2009, he received “The President’s Award” from the Scottish Brass Band Association, for services to banding, and in 2018, he was appointed musical director of the National Children’s Band of Scotland.
He now lives in the lovely Scottish Borders, finding time to teach, write, perform, judge, and conduct bands at all levels.