Kenneth Blackwood started playing French Horn at Secondary school and gained a place at the Junior RSAMD (now Conservatoire), which he attended from 1977-1980. While he was there he was awarded a prize for highest mark obtained for ABRSM Grade VIII. Kenneth went on to study with Maurice Temple at the RSAMD, now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and was awarded the Horn prize in both 1983 and 84. While he was there he played Principal horn in both the Royal Conservatoire Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. After graduating from Glasgow University (joint course) he taught for a year for Grampian Council before being appointed as Assistant Principal Horn to the Scottish Opera Orchestra by Sir Alexander Gibson. Two years later he was appointed by Neme Jervi to the post of Assistant Principal Horn in the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO).
During his timewith the RSNO he performed in concerts with Pavarotti, Yehudi Menuhin, John Ogden, Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein and many other great conductors and soloists as well as recording many film scores and performing around the world. While in the RSNO Kenneth taught at the Junior Conservatoire (17 years), was head of Brass at the Douglas Academy Music School and was Horn /Brass tutor at Glasgow Schools Orchestra, Strathclyde Schools Orchestra, Grampian Schools Orchestra and National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. He also helped design the Kinder Horn for Boosey and Hawkes.
Kenneth left the RSNO in 2003 to take up his present position as Senior Teacher in the East Renfrewshire Music Service.Many of his pupils over the years have played/and still play in NYOS, NYO (GB), have gained Scholarships to Music Colleges and also gone on to play professionally. He has given ‘In-Service training’, lectures and Master Classes throughout Britain. Still plays regularly (recently featured on a CD with Luke Daniels), and is in demand as a conductor of both Brass and Wind Bands.
