Kevin Mackenzie, Camborne Town Band Musical Director.

 

Kevin was born on the 1^st March 1977, in Middlesex, and in 1989 he and his family moved to Cornwall.

Kevin’s mother and her father are musical and they were very supportive when he showed an interest in joining a brass band. The family were living in St Dennis and it seemed logical for him to join St Dennis Junior Band. Kevin said, “My grandad had records of Brighouse & Rastrick which he enjoyed. They were the first brass band that I had ever heard and it was a coincidence that I joined them a few years later!“

At the age of eleven, he began learning percussion with St Dennis Juniors led by Derek Greenwood & Albert Chapel. As is so often the case, Kevin’s parents, Christine and Roy, involved themselves in their son’s musical interest and since that time they have served on the band’s committee.

Like many young Cornish bandsmen, Kevin expressed an interest in joining the Cornwall Youth Brass Band and in 1991 he joined the percussion section. He was a member from 1991 to 1996 and attended several residential courses. Here again, his parents involved themselves in the administration side of the band.

At the age of fourteen, whilst a member of St Dennis and the CYBB, he made the decision to switch from percussion to euphonium: he settled into that section with the help of Wayne McArthy and Terry Sleeman.

In due course, he became the CYBB’s principal euphonium and competed and won many awards at local solo competitions.

In 1994, he left St Dennis and joined the euphonium section at Bodmin Town where he had an enjoyable couple of years under the direction of Howard Taylor.

1995 was an important year for Kevin as it was then that he moved to Yorkshire to study music. Success followed and he achieved a BA (hons) in Band Studies and a DipABRSM LRSM in performance on the euphonium, gaining a distinction in both.

Whilst at University, he became a member of Brighouse and Rastrick, his granddad’s favourite band. During his time there the band, under Alan Withington, achieved remarkable success as they won what is referred to as The Treble: All England Masters Champions, National Champions and European Champions.

Kevin moved back to Cornwall in Autumn 1998 following the discovery of a problem with his back which had become apparent when he began basic training for the Coldstream Guards. He said, “I began teaching privately throughout Cornwall and joined Mount Charles Band as a player and conductor. I became a tutor for the Cornwall Youth Brass Band and conducted at one of the Christmas Courses. I also had a stint conducting Bodmin Town and started up their youth band in the process.“

In 2006, he left Bodmin and moved to Camborne Town where he has remained ever since. He played euphonium for a couple years before taking the baton and becoming the band’s temporary Musical Director. The position was formalised in 2010 when he was officially appointed the band’s Musical Director and joined the long list of illustrious names who have conducted this famous band.

Kevin conducting Camborne Town at Trevithick Day in 2011 (Photo: Tony Mansell)

Kevin leading Camborne Town at the WEBF at Bugle in 2011 (Photo: Clive Letcher)

Kevin – December 2012 (Camborne Town official photograph)

Kevin – back on euphonium for an event in May 2013 (Photo: Tony Mansell)

 

Life in a Championship Section brass band is busy, particularly for the person wielding the baton, and it was always a case of juggling the time between music and the day job.

Camborne Town Band with Kevin Mackenzie MD at Torquay in 2014

Kevin after conducting Camborne Town at the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015 after being placed 6^th in the Championship Section (Photo: Marcus Dunstan)

 

In April 2014 Kevin married Joanna Rowe, Camborne Town flugel player. Joanna comes from a St Breward brass band family.

The Mackenzie line-up in 2022: Kevin and Joanna with Thomas and Abigail

 

Now, in 2023, Kevin and Joanna live in Bodmin with their two children. They are still members of Camborne Town and life continues to be a balance of parenthood, music and work – particularly so with the contest season underway. With a superb win in the Regional Brass Band Championships already achieved, they look forward to the challenge of the British Open Spring Festival and our own Bugle Contest.

 

 

Conductor Contest Results

 

Cornwall Open Entertainment Contest

2010: Camborne Town placed 4^th

 

 

Regional Championships of Great Britain

2006: Bodmin Town placed 7^th in the Championship Section playing Rienzi by Richard Wagner arr. Howard Lorriman.

2006: Bodmin Town placed 10^th in the Championship Section playing Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Peter Graham.

2018: Camborne Town placed 3^rd in the Championship Section playing Odyssey by Kevin Norbury.

2019: Camborne Town placed 5^th in the Championship Section playing Seascapes by Ray Steadman-Allen.

 

 

National Championships of Great Britain

2009: St Breward Silver placed 1^st in the Fourth Section playing Alta Vista by Bruce Fraser.

2015: Camborne Town placed 6^th in the Championship Section playing Spiriti.

2021: Camborne Town placed 7^th in the Championship Section playing Heroes by Bruce Broughton.

 

 

Pontins National Contest

2005: Bodmin Town placed 17^th in the Championship Section playing Three Figures by Herbert Howells.

 

 

Spring Festival

2009: Camborne Town placed 7^th in the Senior Trophy playing Spectrum.

2016: Camborne Town placed 16^th in the Grand Shield playing Of Distant Memories.

2017: Camborne Town placed 8^th in the Grand Shield playing Reflections on Swan Lake by Stephen Roberts.

2018: Camborne Town placed 8^th in the Grand Shield playing The Triumph of Time by Peter Graham.

2019: Camborne Town placed 15^th in the Grand Shield playing Fraternity by Thierry Deleruyelle.

2022: Camborne Town placed 10^th in the Grand Shield playing Dynasty by Peter Graham.

 

 

Scottish Open Brass Band Championships

2008: Camborne Town placed 6^th in the Championship Section playing St Magnus.

 

 

SWBBA Contest

2013: Camborne Town placed 2^nd in the Open section playing On Alderley Edge.

2016: Camborne Town placed 2^nd in the Open Section playing Between the Moon and Mexico.

2017: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Open Section playing Paganini Variations.

2018: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Open Section playing Of Distant Memories.

2019: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Open Section playing Harmony Music.

2022: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Open Section playing Fraternity” by Thierry Deleruyelle.

 

 

West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Bugle Contest)

2005: Bodmin Town placed 2^nd in the Championship Section playing Contest Music by Wilfred Heaton.

2005: Bodmin Town placed 1^st in the Championship Section playing Roll Away Bet, by J Ord Hume.

2009: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Championship Section playing Partita by Philip Sparke.

2009: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Championship Section playing Honest Toil by William Rimmer.

2011: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Championship Section playing Carnival Overture by Anton Dvorak

2011: Camborne Town placed 3^rd in the Championship Section playing Ave Verum Mozart Arr. A H Jakeway

2014: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Championship Section playing Connotations by E Gregson.

2014: Camborne Town placed 3^rd in the Championship Section playing The Contestor by T J Powell.

2017: Camborne Town placed 1^st in the Championship Section playing Les Preludes.

2017: Camborne Town placed 2^nd in the Championship Section playing Irish Tune from County Derry.

 

 

Yeovil Entertainment Contest

2001: Mount Charles placed 5^th

2006: Bodmin Town placed 14^th

2009: Camborne Town placed 5^th

2010: Camborne Town placed 6^th

2011: Camborne Town placed 7^th

2012: Camborne Town placed 5^th

2013: Camborne Town placed 7^th