Kerry Camden is well known as a distinguished bassoonist, teacher, wind tutor, conductor, adjudicator and arranger.

Kerrison Hamilton Camden was born in London in 1936 and gained a music scholarship to Highgate School.  Thereafter, he was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music (RCM) where he studied bassoon with his father, the internationally-renowned bassoonist, Archie Camden.  Whilst there, Kerry gave recitals with his mother, Joyce, known professionally as Jan Kerrison, the 'cellist, piano accompanist and composer.  While Kerry's first and last names derive from his parents', his middle name is after Sir Hamilton Harty, Kerry's godfather and a close friend of Archie.  Hamilton Harty is better known to most as a composer, arranger and sometime conductor of the Hallé Orchestra.  Kerry's studies were suspended for three years while he did national service in the band of the Irish Guards, but he returned to the RCM to become an Associate in 1957.  

From the RCM, Kerry joined the BBC Concert Orchestra as principal bassoonist and, after a few years, moved into the freelance world.  He appeared regularly with the major symphony orchestras in London, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with whom performances included the royal opening of the Fairfield Halls in Croydon with Sir Malcom Sargent.  He also played with the Pro Arte and the New Symphony Orchestra, including performing in the latter, accompanying Jascha Heifetz .  He also performed frequently with several of the well-known chamber orchestras, such as the English Chamber Orchestra; the London Mozart Players; the Philomusica of London; the Bath Festival Orchestra under Yehudi Menhuin; the Schubert Orchestra; and the Orchestra Nova.  In 1964, Kerry joined the London Mozart Players as principal bassoonist and appeared with them on many occasions as soloist.  In the same year, he was appointed Professor at the Royal College of Music and was elected to the status of Fellow (FRCM) in 1992.

Kerry is associated with many chamber groups, including the Camden Trio; the Camden Wind Quintet; the Camden Wind Ensemble; Musica da Camera; the Webern Ensemble; etc.  A significant amount of his time has also been spent in film and television music studios, including working on BBC music education programmes, and as a wind instruments consultant to Boosey & Hawkes (now part of The Music Group).

Kerry has taken his music extensively abroad, including a period as tutor-in-residence at the Academy for the Performing Arts in Hong Kong and, in 2003, he spent time in Oman, teaching the bassoon and tutoring wind ensembles with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra.  Kerry has also worked for many years coaching young musicians in youth orchestras around the UK, including  the National Youth Orchestra, and county youth orchestras, such as Wiltshire, Lancashire, North Wales (Gwynedd and Clwyd), Staffordshire and Hertfordshire.

This variety of experience and the calibre of those with whom he has collaborated mean that Kerry has a very entertaining fund of stories for illustrating talks and speeches suitable for almost any occasion.  These stories range from those about Sir Thomas Beecham through to accounts of his taking part in the music for the James Bond movies (under the baton of John Barrie), or from playing on ice, with John Curry whizzing past on skates, through to investitures at Buckingham Palace or cup finals at Wembley Stadium!!

Kerry now also directs and tutors at the unique Berwang Holiday Music Course (a residential summer course in the Austrian Tyrol that combines holiday and music activities) and tutors at other music courses.  Kerry is also involved in the provision of various other opportunities for playing and learning music, especially wind music.  For example, he arranges music for chamber groups; teaches the bassoon; conducts (full orchestra as well as ensembles); adjudicates at festivals and competitions; gives master classes; and takes workshop and ensemble sessions.  His work over the last couple of years has taken him as far afield as Oman and Canada.  In 2005, Kerry inaugurated the much-enjoyed Bach to Bacchus Weekends, which are now usually held in both spring and autumn in the Mosel valley, Germany.  In 2006, Kerry also instigated a week-long music winter holiday, combining skiing and other winter holiday activities in the Austrian Tyrol with music-making.    Further details can be found by clicking on the links in this paragraph or in the left-hand border. 

Alternatively, to discuss ideas/your requirements, please telephone Kerry Camden on +44 (0)1923-263715 or e-mail him c/o info@musicholiday.com.  For information on specific courses, e-mail bach2bacchus@musicholiday.com or bwmh@musicholiday.com or, for the Berwang Holiday Music Course only, BHMC@musicholiday.com.