Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Michael Alcorn, MBE is a senior academic and Professor of Music at Queen's University, Belfast. His research interests lie in composition, particularly work with new technologies and music for brass instruments. In addition, he is undertaking research on the history of brass bands in Ireland from 1850 onwards.

Outside of academia, Professor Alcorn has been active as a brass band arranger, composer and conductor working with bands in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He has been the conductor of Downshire Brass in Belfast since 2009 and has led them from the first section to the Championship section in Northern Ireland with a hat-trick of wins in entertainments contests , three qualifying trips to the European Brass Band Championships and first place in the first Cory Online Brass Band Championship in 2021 with a programme which he composed and arranged specially for the band.

He has conducted on three occasions in the challenge Section of the European Brass Band Championships and a contests throughout Ireland and in Scotland. A passionate advocate for innovative projects to engage new players,
Professor Alcorn has designed an innovative programme for adult beginner musicians called 'Couch to Concert' which has already involved over 50 adult musicians taking their first steps in the banding world.

In the 2026 New Year Honours, Professor. Alcorn was awarded an MBE for his services to Music, Higher Education and the Creative Industries.