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Bandmaster - Kevin Ashman

Kevin Ashman grew up in the Salvation Army at the Edmonton corps in North London. His parents were active members of the corps where his father was the bandmaster and his mother a songster. As a young child he showed a keen interest in music; first as a member of the junior band and subsequently the senior band and songster brigade in which he sang bass under the leadership of Assurance Songster Ernest Chapman.

Kevin developed his interest in brass and vocal music while attending the Latymer Grammar School in Edmonton. He joined the orchestra, senior choir and madrigal group (chamber choir) eventually entering Trinity College of Music in London, where he studied trumpet, voice and conducting. Whilst there, he achieved LTCL and FTCL diplomas as well as winning several college prizes. Kevin has continued his involvement with Salvation Army music and has featured as a soloist in London's Royal Albert Hall as well as other major concert venues around the world. He is currently the principal cornet player of The International Staff Band of The Salvation Army.

He moved to Maidstone in 1988 when he married Andrea, a member of the local corps. Soon after moving to the area, Kevin was asked to help re-form the Canterbury Division's Youth Band, which he went on to lead for some years. In 1991 Kevin was appointed as the Songster Leader, a position for which he continues to have much enthusiasm and commitment.  In October 2009, Kevin took over the Bandmasters role, following the retirement of Keith Thomas.