WLF meet the band: Kirkintilloch Kelvin
Sunday 5 June 2016
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Band performing at Fanfare, part of the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival.
WITH one week to go, bands' preparations are well underway ahead of the 2016 West Lothian Festival of Brass.
Among the bands taking part in the event in Livingston's Howden Park Centre on Sunday, June 12, is Kirkintilloch Kelvin. Here is some more information about the East Dunbartonshire band and its Musical Director, Charles Keenan.
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Principal players
History
Formed in 1994, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass is the result of many years of brass tuition in Kirkintilloch by a number of instructors, most notably Willie Tennant. Following the successes of the senior outfit The Kirkintilloch Band, and the enthusiasm of many younger players, it was felt the formation of a second competing band in Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass would give an outlet for the other musical talents within the area.
KKB competed in the 4th section at the Scottish Championships for the first time in 1995, conducted by Charles Keenan. The year 2000 saw KKB take 2nd place in the 3rd section at the Scottish Championships; following this, on October 20 in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, under the baton of Raymond Tennant, became 3rd section champions of Great Britain.
Currently KKB is a championship section band, having been Scottish first section champions in 2009 and 2011 as well as 1st section band of the year in 2009. The band has also proudly represented Scotland at lower section finals on six occasions. It continues to be part of the Kirkintilloch partnership, with both bands working together to benefit teaching and performance of brass music in Kirkintilloch and beyond.
Conductor
Charles Keenan started playing cornet in the St Lawrence's Band at the age of 10, working his way on to flugelhorn and subsequently solo cornet.
In 1972 he commenced studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, receiving trumpet lessons from David James, which led to him being awarded the Subject Prize for Trumpet in 1974.
In 1975 he won the Hugh S Robertson prize for conducting, and was offered a postgraduate year to further his experience. He also freelanced as a trumpet player working with the Scottish National, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and Scottish Opera.
His conducting career began in 1974 with the St John's Band in Port Glasgow. Since then he has gone on to work with many bands including Kirkintilloch, Newtongrange and Renfrew Burgh, achieving contest successes with them all.
In 1995 he conducted Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass on its contesting debut and in 2007 was invited to return the band. Following his return to KKB, he has steered the band to contest wins at the Northern Counties (twice), Scottish Challenge Shield (twice) and the First Section Scottish Championships (twice), guiding the band to the championship section, where it currently competes.
