Kevin Ackford

Show: Brass in the Bay

Kevin was born in Launceston, Cornwall on 7th October 1962 and began playing the Tenor Horn at the age of 6.
Kevin's first band was the Holsworthy Town Band, where he was sat next to his father Michael on the horn section.
After brief spells with Totnes Town Band, and Bude Town Band Kevin at the age of 12 moved to the Championship Section Bodmin Town Band where it was not long before he took over the Principal Horn position.
Leaving the Bodmin Town Band at the age of 14 Kevin went to the St Austell Town Band where he took the position of Principal Euphonium.
Throughout his teenage years Kevin enjoyed long spells with both the Cornwall Youth Band and the National Youth Band of Great Britain, as well as having much success in solos contests both locally and Nationally.
Kevin's first solo Radio broadcast was at the age of 8, at the age of 17 made his first Television appearance, and over the years has appeared with such celebrities as Roy Castle and Harry Secombe.
Kevin has played under the baton of some of the great names of the Brass Band world, including Harry Mortimer, Edward Gregson, Roy Newsome, Professor Walter Hargreaves, Major Peter Parkes and Albert Chappell to name a few.
After living in the North West of England for many years, in 2004 Kevin moved back to his native Cornwall to take up the positions of Musical Director of the St Austell Youth Band, Senior Tutor to the St Austell School Of Brass and Percussion and Principal Euphonium with the St Austell Town Band.
At the beginning of 2007 Kevin temporarily took over as Resident Conductor with the Bodmin Town Band, and Musical Director with the Bodmin Junior Band.
As well as teaching Brass in Schools, Kevin now works with the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra and the Cornwall Youth Orchestra as a tutor, and continues with his composing/arranging for bands.
Kevin's composing career started in 1997, when he had his Euphonium Solo "Cornish Sunset" published.
Since then Kevin has had over 20 pieces published ranging from concert items to test pieces, and his compositions have a very distinctive style which has been described as "very melodic and audience
Amongst Kevin's works is the theme tune to BBC Radio's "Sounds Of Brass" programme, and has recently been recorded by the world famous Black Dyke Band on their CD Essential Dyke Volume VI.