Alan Vincent was educated in London and Cambridge where he won an open exhibition to read music at Clare College. After teaching in Hastings and London he became an education inspector in London and later Kent where he founded Kent Youth Choir, Kent Chamber Choir, Kent County Singers, Kent Youth Chamber Orchestra and Kent Schools Orchestra, and was appointed music director of Gravesham Choral Society and Kent County Youth Orchestra.

During his 17 years with Kent County Youth Orchestra, Alan appeared regularly in Kent and beyond conducting works such as Mahler’s 2^nd and 8^th Symphonies as part of an annual series of concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall, The Planets in Paris, Belshazzar’s Feast in Buenos Aires, and Peter Grimes and The Rite of Spring for the Canterbury Festival.

In 2001, he relinquished his youth music posts in order to devote more time to freelance conducting, composing and his continuing work with Kent Chamber Choir and Gravesham Choral Society and Orchestra. He remains committed to youth music, however, and is regularly invited back to work with Kent's talented young instrumentalists and singers. He composes music for the adults and youngsters he works with, his recent Magnificat and Sing Joyfully enabling them to perform alongside top professionals.

Alan retired as musical director of the KCC in 2023.