70th birthday interview with Chic Keenan in Brass Band World

The career of renowned Scottish conductor and educator Charles (Chic) Keenan has been celebrated in print, following his 70th birthday earlier this year.

Written by Mark Good, the interview for Brass Band World magazine charts Chic's early experiences in music as a youngster growing up in Inverclyde, through to his studies at what was then the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and beyond into his professional life as an educator and shrewd administrator. 

It also examines his involvement in the Scottish banding scene, where he conducted and played with many of the country's leading bands, including The Kirkintilloch Band, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, Newtongrange Silver and Renfrew Burgh, enjoying considerable success.

Reflecting on the interview, Mark Good commented: "The name Chic Keenan will be familiar to banding audiences across Scotland and further afield, having made a huge contribution to the country's brass music and education sectors.

"In the year he celebrated his 70th birthday, I felt it was an appropriate time to chat to Chic about his extensive and varied musical career, from a young lad being taken along to his local band in Greenock, to the accomplished conductor and educator who has graced contest and concert platforms, enjoying great success and inspiring generations of musicians along the way."

The full interview featured in the May edition of Brass Band World magazine. More information is at: www.brassbandworld.co.uk.

Chic receives his SBBA life membership medal from Peter Fraser in 2016