Twice winner of the Northern Meeting Clasp for pibroch, Allan is an internationally renowned performer and teacher, hugely influential in relation to the diverse piping scene today. He was raised in the Gaelic-speaking community of Glenuig, and his work often explores the relationship between pibroch and Gaelic song, rhythm, and language. Having researched the relationship between these art forms through his 1995 M.Litt thesis at the University of Edinburgh, his work has often diverged from the dominant competitive style, seeking a more historically informed and expressive approach to pibroch and Gaelic music more widely.