Keith started playing the flugel horn at the age of 10 with his local band, the flugel horn was the only spare instrument the band had available at the time. During the first two or three years I played flugel horn and soprano cornet before settling on Bb cornet.

 

At the age of 13 Keith successfully auditioned for the NYBBGB and gained experience from playing under such distinguished conductors as, Geoffrey Brand, Harry Mortimer and Eric Ball. He also played alongside a very young looking, Alan Morrison,Nigel Boddice, Nick Thompson, Robert Childs, Andrew Fawbert and Alan Wycherly to name but a few.

 

At the age of 15 he had yet another successfull audition, this time for the Desford Colliery Band where James Watson was the principal cornet. My best memories of my 14 years at the band are during the era of Howard Snell, he had a major influence on my career as a cornet player and teacher.

After a brief spell with GUS ( 6 months to be exact ), Keith was immensly proud to be offered a position in Black Dyke and I am now in my 11th year with the band and I am looking forward to the next 11.

Away from the band I am a Brass and Woodwind teacher at the schools and colleges in and around Leicester. I also give private tuition, and am responsible for forming and conducting a local youth band, namely the Harborough Training Band.

Keith regularly appears as a tutor and soloist with many of the country's leading youth bands and only in May-2005 spent several days playing and holding masterclasses in the schools in Detroit with Brett Baker and David Thornton.