Alan Gout read music at Oxford. After a short time at the R.C.M. and a stint as a pub pianist he joined the original D'Oyly Carte opera as a trombonist. This versatility soon led to work in the West-End theatre, arranging and composing at the National Theatre and musical direction for the Royal Shakespeare Company.He combined musical direction for children's TV programmes with collaborating on music workshops for schools. He has conducted ballet with London City Ballet and English National Ballet, all the while gaining a reputation as an expert arranger and composer of original light music, especially in the educational field.He teaches at Drama Centre, London and at Dartington International Summer School and is musical Director of the Berkeley Square Society Band.
