Allan grew up amongst the intense brass band community of Northern England. He was taught to play the cornet by his father and eventually played principal cornet with both the Wingates band and the Fodens band. After a post graduate course, on trumpet , under Howard Snell, at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester he embarked upon a freelance career playing with many of Great Britain`s leading orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra.

He now lives in Norway and is a member of the trumpet section of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition Allan has played a major role in the Norwegian band `explosion`, conducting Krohnengen Brass Band, Tertnes Brass, Eikanger Bjørsvik Musikklag and Manger Musikklag.

In 1991 he took up the position of professional musical director of Brighouse and Rastrick band. Then followed, the most successful period in the bands 120 year long history.The high points being the National Champion band of Great Britain in 1997 and 1998, the `all England Masters Champions in 1998 and European Champions in the same year.  Allan and his new band won the National Championships of Great Britain. This success was repeated again in 2003.

From 2005 to taking up the position as Professional conductor of Fodens Band he held the same position with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. In October 2006, together with Grimethorpe Colliery band, Allan won the National Championships of  Great Britain for a fifth time and was voted conductor of the year on the internet site, 4barsrest.com.Both feats were repeated in 2007 and also in the same year, Stavanger Brass Band , conducted by Allan, won the Norwegian brass band championships. Allan has been the chief conductor of Stavanger Brass band since 2006. In 2008 Stavanger Brass Band appeared at the entertainment competition `Brass in Concert` in Newcastle and after receiving 2nd place become the highest placed foreign band ever, to take part in a British competition.

In November 2010 Allan together with the Grimethorpe Colliery band won `Brass in Concert` and this was soon followed, in February 2011, by a first place at the North West area championships conducting the Fodens Band.

Over the last few years Allan has become renowned for his innovative programme planning with concerts and productions throughout Europe and now runs his own  Conducting Summer School in Leeuwarden, Holland.

His production company Classic Music Withington Zubicky pioneered orchestral family concerts in Scandinavia, his productions being performed by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.

He travels extensively with projects planned for the near future in Norway, England, Switzerland, Holland and Japan.