Keith M. Wilkinson, Arranger for Brass Music

Keith M. Wilkinson

Arranger

Keith has been successfully directing brass bands for more than 50 years!  He commenced regularly conducting while he was a student at the University Of Manchester and following two periods directing prominent Salvation Army bands in England he entered the highly competitive British brass band contesting scene in the Fall of 1976.  In the following years he enjoyed an enormous amount of success, including having the privilege of directing the first-placed band in more than 40 contests.  His success has continued in USA and he has led the first-placed band on 5 occasions in different sections of the North American Brass Band Championships.  Keith continues to enjoy accepting the frequent invitations he receives to direct bands both in USA and other countries.

Since moving to USA in 1996 he has been delighted to receive a number of invitations to return to Britain to conduct and, following a recent appearance, Iwan Fox (4barsrest.com) wrote a welcome return to the UK of a conductor of proven 24 carat class ". Keith always enjoyed his frequent visits to Switzerland, sometimes conducting his English band, sometimes to guest conduct one of Switzerland's fine bands and on other occasions simply visiting friends.

Keith's first home in USA was in northern Ohio and shortly after his arrival knowledge that he was living in the area led to the formation of Brass Band Of The Western Reserve, a band he led with distinction until the Summer of 2021.  In recognition of his 24 years with BBWR he is now their Music Director Emeritus.

Keith has also been a successful university Professor of Mathematics, at the University of Nottingham in England and, more recently, at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Each of the bands he has directed has established an outstanding reputation for their concert presentations and these have been enhanced by the inclusion of some of Keith's brass band arrangements.  He has more than 120 published arrangements with publishers in Britain, Switzerland and USA.  He is especially delighted that during a period of more than 30 years Obrasso Verlag have published several of Keith Wilkinson's arrangements.  Some of his arrangements have been used as test pieces at major championships.