Kevin Banks

What inspired you to take up the clarinet?
Benny Goodman. I watched the Benny Goodman Story on TV. My parents bought  a clarinet when I was 11 and said that if I didn’t practice they would take it back to the shop. I played more football and tennis than clarinet as a teenager. I went to Chichester College of FE age 16 which meant I had to work hard to catch up. I’m still trying to.

When did you join the BSO?
I joined the BSO in the summer of 1988. My first week included recording Tchaikovsky's Third Symphony with Andrew Litton. In the first two weeks the orchestra gave three concerts in the Winter Gardens , a Winchester Cathedral concert, a trip to the very small floating stage at Henley and most memorable of all, Hooked on Classics!

Do you come from a musical family?
My father was a traffic policeman - one of the first to work on the M3. He was a keen listener and very encouraging. He could play the piano ‘by ear’. Some members of his family were involved in brass bands and choral society’s around Wigan. I followed both my grandfathers by going into the pit. Luckily my first job (and pit) in Opera North was much cleaner and safer than theirs.

What are the challenges of playing the clarinet?
Finding reeds.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I loved playing in the opera orchestra in Leeds and the opportunities of playing Tosca and Salome again in the BSO were memorable. Winchester Cathedral is a wonderful building and I can still remember recording some lovely English choral music there watching the light change in the windows.

Although daunting, playing various concertos over the years has been rewarding and challenging. It is good to have a record of the Nielsen concerto on CD as, along with Norman Hallam’s concerto, it took many months to prepare.

The BSO has been fortunate over the years to have many superb visiting soloists. I particularly remember Paul Tortelier and Rostropovitch, Ruggiero Ricci conducted by Kees Bakels and recently James Ehnes playing Tchaikovsky.

Which piece would you take to a desert island?
Probably Tosca or Don Giovanni. But I think Ella Fitzgerald might be tempting.

What would you do if you weren’t a musician?
I really have no idea.

Name a musical personality living or dead you would most like to meet?
I would like to have heard the first performance of Elgar 1 and it would have been interesting to meet him.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Walking and cycling. We have an energetic dog who is great fun and enjoys Bach, Puccini and sitting by De Falla.