Alan Spence
Alan Spence is a third generation brass bander who started his musical career in the Levin Municipal Band under the guidance of Tom Taylor. As a Cornet player, Alan was a member of 3 National Bands of New Zealand. He also won the New Zealand Amateur Cornet title and placed 5th in the finals of the British Open Brass solo championships. For 15 years he was a member of Rotorua Brass when they were an A grade band and for 3 years was the Principal Cornet of the Hillingdon Band in London under the Musical Direction of composer Philip Sparke.
After returning from living in the U.K. he commenced his conducting career with the then Whakatane Citizens Band who were a non affiliated D grade band. Within 5 years, with wins in both the D grade and then C grade, the band was promoted to the B grade. Alan then conducted Rotorua Brass for 5 years while they were in the A grade. After a short break, he returned to conducting in Whakatane with the newly named EBOP Brass. After successive wins in the C grade, the band was promoted to the B grade. After 2 wins and 2 high placings overall in the B grade, EBOP Brass has recently been promoted to the A grade for the first time in its 102 year history.
Alan is very proud that all four of his sons have played brass instruments and all have gained selection into National Secondary Schools’ Bands and National Youth Bands. His two eldest sons have also gained selection into National Bands. Alan’s wife, Tania, was also a member of National Youth Bands and the National Band of New Zealand. Up until recently she had been the Principal Cornet of EBOP Brass for many successful years.
Alan was the Musical Director of the 2012 & 2013 National Secondary Schools’ Band and is currently the Musical Director of the National Youth Band of New Zealand.
He is a classroom music Teacher at Trident High School in Whakatane and in 2014 was awarded a QSM for his services to Brass Bands and community music.