Alan Hacker studied the Clarinet in London, France, Germany and Austria before joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 19 and being appointed professor at the Royal Academy of Music. He has an international reputation as a performer, a champion of both new music and of the classical revival.  In the 1960s, he was a founder member of the Pierrot Players, the Fires of London and Matrix.  He  restored the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Quintet to their original form, using the extended Basset Clarinet which he had specially made for this purpose and which has since been used by Birtwhistle, Davies, Mancini and others.

In the 70s, came the Music Party which gained an international reputation both in the Concert Hall and on record.  Whilst a senior lecturer at York University, he inaugurated the Early Music Festival and formed a classical orchestra which under his direction gave first performances of the classics on original instruments. He has conducted in Opera Houses and Concert Halls throughout the world, although he has by no means  forsaken his first love and has been known to combine conducting and concerto performance in the same concert.  He has recorded widely and works continue to be written for him.

William Mann in a Times review concluded that " he has something uncommon, fresh and very musical to bring to us. He is without doubt our clarinet player hors concour,  a musician to be treasured in our midst"