My Gurus – Jane Bryant

Alan Hacker OBE

I first came across clarinettist and conductor Alan Hacker (who died in April of this year), when I was studying music at the University of Leeds. He was not only a phenomenal performer, but was also the then Sir Robert Mayer Lecturer in Music. I had a number of performance study sessions with him and he was almost unbelievably forthright, challenging and demanding – but entirely inspirational. He taught me the importance of communication in and through music. It was not enough simply to give a ‘good’ performance; it was vital to feel it, commit to it and transfer that passion through the music to the listener. Understanding the importance of communication is something that has benefited me not only in music-making but in all areas of my work since then.