Alan Simmons

Alan Simmons taught music in secondary schools for twenty years then became Music Adviser to Kirklees MC for a further ten. He now works as a full time composer, specialising in music for schools and choral music, often leading workshops for adults and children.

Bringing together children and adults in music, especially singing, has been a permanent goal in Alan’s work. His large-scale choral music work The Beauchamp Gloria is a good example, because the children play a key role in the piece. They are on equal terms with the adult singers, not a small afterthought!

Alan has also devoted a great deal of time and effort to encouraging boys to sing in choirs. For far too long singing for boys has lacked “street cred”. Starting in 1983 with his football piece, “Saturday Afternoon” he’s done a great deal of work to banish that notion!

A new angle appeared in his work recently. There is a real shortage of orchestral music specifically written for children. We still rely on Peter & The Wolf or Carnival of the Animals, but there was little new until Stoke on Trent City Music School commissioned Alan to write a piece for their staff orchestra. The result is “The Bad Baron and the Ballerina” which not only entertains and informs the children, but involves them in the music too, both as singers and percussionists.

Outside education he has been musical director or chorusmaster for several performers, including Cleo Laine, Howard Keel and Roger Whittaker. His own singing group, The Mastersingers, have performed regularly on BBC radio and television.

One of the zanier aspects of Alan's work could be heard on BBC Radio 2 in November 2007 when the Jeremy Vine Show commissioned him to write a new verse for the National Anthem, to replace the controversial one that talked about "crushing the Scots"!

Eileen Simmons

Eileen is the organisation behind the business, keeping her husband focussed. Without her, many of the works in the catalogue simply wouldn’t exist! Eileen started her career in education as a primary school teacher, then moved into a Middle School in Wakefield with responsibility for ethnic minority children. From there she became an advisory teacher for Multicultural Education for Kirklees MBC, and later an OFSTED inspector specialising in the humanities.

Claire and Stuart Grainger

Claire is Eileen's daughter and Stuart is her husband. They have been involved in the marketing and promotion of Alan Simmons Music for the past eight years - producing the book covers, catalogues, exhibition materials and website. Recently they also have taken over the publishing side of the business and are responsible for getting the sheet music and books out to you. This means that Alan has more time to compose and arrange music.

Leonie Smith

The new and very friendly 'face' of Alan Simmons music, Leonie has been working with Alan, Eileen, Claire and Stuart for a few months now. Leonie studied Drama and English at St Mary's in Twickenham and has been involved in musicals and theatre productions throughout her life, either on the stage or behind the scenes in stage management. Musically she plays the clarinet and enjoys singing (although she says it is usually behind closed doors these days). You may have met her at Singposium in Birmingham and if you call, you will probably speak to Leonie.

Performances of Alan's work have included:

Music for Youth's Schools Prom, held annually at the Royal Albert Hall over three days, has done more to help children develop their musical talents than any other event. In 2007 two of Alan's works were performed there. On the Monday Prom children from Milton Keynes performed Kofi's Journey and on the Tuesday Prom, children from Leicester County and Borough performed Food with Attitude. Over 500 children each night, singing splendidly!
“Olympics”, was performed in Halifax in November 2003 by nearly 1000 children, singers and dancers, from Halifax schools accompanied by the NOEL orchestra, conductor John Pryce-Jones, and led by international opera singer Sir Thomas Allen.
“Olympics”, was performed again last year in Thomas Allen’s home town of Seaham, co. Durham.
“Turning the Tide” for Sir Thomas Allen and the East Durham Youth Choir, a new choir that was born directly out of the work done in Seaham. It had its first performance in November 2007.
Beauchamp Gloria was performed in Wakefield Cathedral in November 2004.
The first movement of another Simmons cantata for children “Farewell, Admirable Queen” was performed for The Queen during Jubilee year in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, by the CBSO Junior Choir, conducted by Shirley Court and accompanied by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Another example of raising the profile of children’s singing!

Mastersingers in the press:

"Excellent, sensitive performances" Gramophone magazine

"Charming collection, with fresh singing" The Guardian

Both gave their third CD, "Love's Redeeming Work", featuring the music of Malcolm Williamson, late Master of the Queen's Music (the first new recording of his music for 19 years) a 4-star rating for performance and recording.