Kevin McKeown

Kevin McKeown has served as the conductor of the Wind Ensemble at the University of California, Irvine since 2008. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and raised in Santa Monica, CA, he attended UCLA where he earned B.A. and M.M. degrees in music education and instrumental conducting. His mentor teachers were Dr. Thomas Lee and Gordon Henderson.

Professor McKeown is currently the conductor of the Santa Monica College Wind Ensemble and is Director of Bands at Santa Monica High School. In 2019 he was appointed the Interim Director of Athletic Bands at his alma mater, directing the “Solid Gold Sound” UCLA Bruin Marching Band, Varsity Band, and the university’s Symphonic Band.

As an active adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor, Kevin McKeown is a member of the California Band Director’s Association (CBDA), Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA). Guest conducting opportunities include the United States Air Force Concert Band, the inaugural Riverside County High School Honor Band, and the School Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) All-State Honor Band in Brisbane, Australia. He has had musical collaborations with Michael Sachs, Christopher Martin, Andrew Bain, Michael McDonald, "Weird Al" Yankovich, and is created in the album "Map of the Soul: 7" by the internationally acclaimed, BTS.

An avid supporter of new music, he has been involved in numerous wind band consortiums/commissions, including the commission of “Letter from Home” (Copland/Belski) and “The Ash Grove” consortium by Julie Giroux. He has had international conducting opportunities including the Chicago Symphony Hall, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Queensland Conservatorium Theater (Brisbane, Australia), and the Basilica di Sant’ Ignazio in Rome, Italy.

Title: 
Lecturer
Specialization: 
Wind Ensemble
Degree: 
M.M., University of California, Los Angeles
Phone: 
(949) 824–6615
E-mail: 
mckeownk@uci.edu
Location: 
303 Music & Media