Kevin Riley

Kevin Riley lives in Andover, United Kingdom and began his musical life as most musicians do by playing the recorder. This led onto the trumpet and then the trombone.At the age of 15 he joined the Army as a trombone player quickly rising through the playing ranks of the Junior Army Service and then onto Kneller Hall in London. Here he studied trombone under Mr. William Teskey (Principal trombone Covent Garden) and Mr. Dennis Bayton (Taverners Big Band).

Mr. Riley also studied theory and composition under Mr. R.G Swift. It was here that he acquired a thirst for the knowledge of other wind and brass instruments and was frequently seen mixing with all sorts of musicians both in and out of bars! In 1973 he joined The Queens Royal Irish Hussars band and was their Solo Trombone player for nine years. It was here that he started to arrange and compose. Whilst in the band Riley had his first piece played on the national German Radio, it was an arrangement of the Theme from The Godfather. At this time he was also lucky enough to further his trombone skills, through lessons from the Principal of the BSO, Mr. Dennis Wise.

Mr. Riley left the Army in 1981 and could frequently be found depp-ing in various theatre pits throughout the south coast. The list of ensemble membership runs between big bands, jazz bands, brass ensembles, orchestras, German bands and recorder consorts!

At the present time he is teaching at Thorngrove Prep School in Berkshire and for the Berkshire Maestros in Newbury where he works with the trumpet ensemble, Mr. Snow's Trumpets and the Clifton Wind Band. He is also the musical director of The Allegro Wind Band and The Andover Light Orchestra. Mr. Riley regularly writes and arranges for all these ensembles.

With the birth of the Internet, he regularly talks to musicians from around the world and was honoured to have a piece performed by The Octava Chamber Orchestra in Seattle on November 2nd 2008, as well as his Rondo for Strings and a Partita for Solo Violin performed by the same ensemble.

USA, Mexico, Canada and even China have been some of the many and varied destinations.