Alan Cuckston

Alan George Cuckston He studied music with Fanny Waterman and Lamar Crowson from 1959 to 1963. He became a keyboard soloist for the BBC featured frequently. He taught at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham

He made his debut at Wigmore Hall in 1965, playing with the Lydian Ensemble. The same year he played the world premiere of the Harpsichord Sonata by Ronald Stevenson at the Harrogate Festivals.

Cuckston was recognised internationally; specialising in early keyboard instruments (harpsichord, organ and fortepiano), Cuckston gave concerts in many parts of Europe and North America. He toured as harpsichordist with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and as organist with Pro Cantione Antiqua.

Cuckston produced recordings in a broad repertoire, from medieval music to contemporary. Rameau and Couperin (Naxos Records). Cuckston studied the music played in the Brontë family household and recorded A Musical Evening with the Brontë Family in 1979. Cuckston's organ playing was described as of "bright tone and impeccable, unobtrusive and exemplary playing". Cuckston authored a tribute to Rawsthorne in The Creel, a journal of the Rawsthorne Trust. He recorded Britten’s Cabaret Songs with jazz singer Norma Winstone. He commissioned works for harpsichord from Elizabeth Maconchy, Stevenson, He had a harpsichord built by John Rooks of Ticknall, Derbyshire, based on a 1638 harpsichord made by Andreas Ruckers for playing Baroque music.