Alison grew up in Harrogate in a very musical family. Her love of music and a long held desire to teach led her to study at Bulmershe College, Reading where she sang with the award winning Bulmershe Girls’ Choir directed by Gwyn Arch. Her love of singing continued when she moved back to the north and became the top voice in the successful vocal quintet, Quintessential.

She began her teaching career in Leeds but it was the move to Lindley Junior School in 1997 that really ignited her passion for children’s choirs. The Lindley Choir was formed in 1999 and it wasn’t long before the choir were winning competitions both locally and nationally. The first major success was in 2001 winning BBC North Choir of the Year in Bradford’s St George’s Hall. The choir’s major successes since have included winning Songs of Praise Choir of the Year 2008 and 2016, finalists in 2014 and 2015, “Choir of the Year’s Children’s Choir 2012”, first prize at the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen in 2012 and 2017. The choir has also had many exciting opportunities, including performing alongside Aled Jones in a BBC Children in Need CD and sharing the concert platform with many excellent choirs and bands. Alison also runs three other choirs at Lindley Junior School. The Training Choir, a Boys’ Choir of 125 and the Lindley Community Choir which has a membership of 130 ranging from 6-80+ years old.

She joined the Huddersfield Choral Society Youth Choirs in September 2016 and has achieved success with the groups. Both the Young Voices and Vocalise won their classes at the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival 2017 and Young Voices also won at the Holmfirth Music Festival 2017. The Youth Choir were invited to appear on the CBBC programme Creeped Out which aired in November 2017.

In recognition of her work, primarily at Lindley, Alison was awarded an MBE in the 2018 New Year Honour’s list.