HATS theatre in Holsworthy saw a brass band spectacular take place on Saturday, October 5, celebrating 50 years in brass banding for local composer and arranger Kevin Ackford.

Kevin began his banding career with the Holsworthy Town Band and has since gone on to work with and play under some of the greatest names in the brass band world as well as well known celebrities.

For the concert the Holsworthy Town Band, the St Austell Town Band who he played for when younger and appeared at the national brass band finals with at the Royal Albert Hall on two occasions, and the St Minver Silver Band who Kevin now works with, joined together for an evening of music with Kevin as guest conductor and soloist.

Among the solos that Kevin performed were a special arrangement for the concert by Kevin of ‘Watching The Wheat’ a melody that won him the BBC Radio 4 Midday Parade competition ‘Search for the Stars’ at the age of nine which in turn earned him his first solo radio broadcast.

He finished with another new title of his ‘Gimme A Minute (or so)’, which wowed the audience with a display of breakneck speed and hitting around 850 notes a minute. 

The concert was well received by the audience with several people asking when another similar concert could be held.

Kevin said: “I have had a great evening and would like to thank the three bands who took part. All of the music tonight had a special meaning to me. To have a concert put on to celebrate my career was a great honour and a night that I will not forget.”