Dear musicians
 
You may have heard the sad news via social media or otherwise that our hornist colleague, Kevin Boyd, has passed away after having been debilitated with motor neuron disease.
 
Most of you will know that Kevin was a regular player with Eroica and other ensembles in the region. Most often he was to be found in the third horn seat in Eroica where he was every bit a pillar of our superb horn section. I can think of many memorable moments he has contributed to our Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms symphony cycles. On occasion, he has also taken on the first horn mantle and he distinguished himself there and whenever he played in Bedworth Symphony Orchestra, where I was also music director for several years. Kevin had a noble sound and was reliably solid (not the backhanded compliment it sounds in the world of the French horn!).
 
Kevin himself was always a generous and good-humoured presence in the orchestra. I always enjoyed it when he shared his passion for all things rail. More recently, I let him know my great admiration for the courage, honesty and positivity he showed as he publicly chronicled his difficult journey to get a diagnosis to explain his symptoms, his acceptance that he could no longer play the instrument he loved and how his life had changed profoundly.
 
Our next concert, whenever that may be, will be dedicated to Kevin’s memory and all that he has given us.
 
Peter Marks - Conductor