He is trombonist and composer based in Edmonton who studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto.
He is an active member of the Edmonton music community where he performs as a chamber musician, improviser and soloist and has founded several ensembles such as the Pergolesi Brass, the Ritchie Trombone Choir and Triceratops and was one of the duo who worked as MULE which improvised and composed a score for the 1929 silent movie The Golem. This score was given its premiere in 2004 at Edmonton’s Metro Theatre. He has also performed several other premieres either as a soloist and/or ensemble member.
He has played with countless other ensembles and orchestras during his career including the Tommy Banks Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Citadel Orchestra, Edmonton Metropolitan Brass, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Wind Ensemble, the NowAge Orchestra, the River City Big Band, the Royal Regiment of Canada Band, the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
He is a collector of works by composers from Edmonton that use resources for the solo bass trombone that are electronically enhanced. He is also a member of Tonus Vivus – Society For New Music (previously known as the Edmonton Composers’ Concert Society), the Music Director for the Ritchie Trombone Choir and heads the Edmonton Trombone Studio.
No stranger to the studio he has appeared on many CBC recordings as well as Snake Fence Country by the Edmonton Wind Ensemble, Book of Hate by Katherine Yearwood, Bashaw: Music by Howard Bashaw and Prairie Brass: Brass Music by Roger Deegan.
In 2009 he was a presenter at the Alberta Band Association’s Music Conference and also in 2009 he put together the Music with the Moravians concert series. In 2010 he was a clinician at the Edmonton Cantando Festival.
Outside of music he is involved in the sport of karate and is the founder and Program Director of the North Edmonton Karate School Association.
Edmonton Wind Ensemble recordings
Snake Fence Country (Howard Cable)
CBC Records SMCD 5165
Conductor – Harry Pinchin
Sources:
- http://www.ritchietrombonechoir.com/members/kread.html
- http://tonusvivus.com/members/read-ken-biography/
- http://albertabandassociation.com/mca_presenters09.php
- http://www.yeodoug.com/resources/text/btrbrec.html
- http://www.yardbirdsuite.com/archives/Shows-Series/Momentum.htm
- http://www.seemagazine.com/article/music/music-previews/ken0409/
- http://www.t27.ca/emcs.nsf/memories?OpenPage&ExpandSection=5&AutoFramed
- http://www.cantando.org/national/edmonton/eadj.htm
- http://www.threebattles.com/offline%20files/Side%20Page%20Links/NRKS%20Teachers/Ken.htm
- http://www.discogs.com/Kathleen-Yearwood-Book-Of-Hate/release/1696951
- http://www.rivercitybigband.com/members.html
- CD Liner Notes: Snake Fence Country