Kevin Price

Kevin Price was born in Wellington, New Zealand and studied at Otago University and the University of Auckland whilst working as sub-principal trombone with the Auckland Philharmonia and as a freelance player with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He moved to London in 1989 after winning an Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) scholarship for postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, leading to freelance work with several London orchestras. Kevin was subsequently appointed Principal Trombone of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and taught trombone for Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.

In 2005, Kevin was appointed RWCMD Head of Brass and Percussion Studies, enabling him to build on a rich tradition of high-level performance and to oversee the development of vocational activities in brass chamber music, historical performance, educational outreach, brass teaching methods and healthy practice.

Kevin examines at specialist music schools and UK conservatoires and works as a reviewer, competition judge and festival adjudicator. He is a Diploma examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2012. He is a member of the Court of Assistants for the Royal Society of Musicians and supports the work of the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund and British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), aiding performing musicians to pursue active and healthy careers.

From 2016, Kevin served as RWCMD Interim Director of Music, leading to his appointment as Deputy Director of Music in 2019. The role requires him to balance and blend professional training of music students with the vibrant and diverse RWCMD arts programme, ensuring that each world-class artist visiting RWCMD brings with them a significant benefit to the student’s training experience. Whilst developing and facilitating cross-disciplinary performance opportunities and ongoing enhancements for students, he also supports the development of the College’s profile as the National Conservatoire of Wales, and its participation within music education in Wales and international music industry networks.

Kevin is an ABRSM Diploma examiner (Conducting, Teaching and Instrumental), and is also a Diploma Syllabus Advisor (2013-). He has served as external examiner at Chetham’s School of Music and is the Brass Assessor for the Purcell School. He has been the external brass examiner at the Birmingham Conservatoire (2017) and the Royal Northern College of Music (2016). He is also on the Advisory Committees for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (2012-), and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (2009-).

Kevin chairs audition panels for BBC Young Musician of the Year is a regular adjudicator and examiner throughout the UK.

He is a trustee of the Mavron String Quartet and sits on the Education Advisory Committee for The Benedetti Foundation. He presented ‘Institutional Relevance’ at the AEC Annual Congress and General Assembly, Graz (2018).

Kevin has collaborated with Dr Alan Watson (Reader in Anatomy and Neuroscience, Cardiff University) in several studies on the physiology of brass performance. These cover posture, breathing and embouchure function. They have involved students at RWCMD and the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, as well as professional players associated with RWCMD. The work has been supported by funding from a Wellcome Trust People Award (2007-2009) and a multi-conservatoire AHRC grant ‘Musical Impact’ (2013-2017).