After serving as choirmaster and organist in adolescence, Kenneth Alwyn turned his attention to conducting during his time as a student at the London Royal Academy of Music. He served as conductor of the Radio Malaya Orchestra in Singapore, before independence, subsequently moving to New Zealand as conductor of the Wellington Royal Choral Society. Returning to London, Alwyn worked for five years as pianist and assistant conductor of the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, thereafter moving to the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden.

Recordings for Decca, television and radio performances and work for the theatre, a long-standing interest, added to a career that brought concert appearances throughout the world, in Japan, America and Europe, and a continuing relationship with the BBC Concert Orchestra over 40 years.

He died on 11 December 2020 at the age of 95.