ALAN SUTTIE was born in Scotland but from an early age lived in Northampton where he received his musical training, first as a pianist then a percussionist, being chosen for the National Youth Orchestra as a timpanist when he was 13. After studying privately with James Bradshaw, then timpanist with the Philharmonia Orchestra, he entered the profession as a free-lance percussionist, rapidly progressing to timpanist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. A Gulbenkian Schol-arship to study conducting led to a period as Associate Conductor of the Scottish National Orchestra and free-lance engagements with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Concert, City of Birmingham and BBC Northern Orchestras as well as the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Manchester Camerata and the Brighton Philharmonic. A period as a Staff Conductor at Welsh National Opera followed after which he was appointed as Head of Winds & Percussion at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo. Whilst in Norway, there were engagements to conduct the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the Bergen Harmonien, as well as extended periods as conductor of Oslo University Orchestra, the Akershus Youth Orchestra and various ensembles within the Academy. Alan Suttie returned to Northampton in 1987 to take up a post with the Northamptonshire Music Service, during which time he has conducted the County Youth Orchestra and County Youth Concert Band. He is also the founder and Chief Conductor of Northants Symphonic Winds, a semi-professional ensemble whose Patron is Sir Malcolm Arnold.