Profile
In over thirty years as a professional musician, Kennedy has become widely experienced in the areas of television, radio, recording, live performance and musical theatre. He is employed as pianist, keyboard player, Music Associate, Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator, Composer, Musical Supervisor and Conductor.
He is fully proficient in Sibelius, Finale and a qualified Logic Pro 9 Master Pro.
Previous employers include: Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sony Music, Susan Boyle, Scottish Opera, Company Chordelia, Michael Harrison Entertainment, Jeff Wayne, b4films, The Really Useful Group, Cameron Mackintosh, Music Solutions, Robert Stigwood, David Ian, BBC Television, Thames Television, LWT, Ulster TV, Anglia TV, Granada TV, Border TV, BBC Scotland, BBC Radio, RPM Arts, Abhann Productions (Riverdance), RSNO, RPO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Nibmusic, JMusic, Kennedy Productions Company.
Experience
2022
Bat Out Of Hell International Tour. Keyboard 1.
ABBA Symphonica. The Hallé, Keyboard 1.
Classic Rock Anthems. BBC Concert Orchestra/Anthony Cherry. Arranging team.
2021
Bat Out Of Hell UK Tour. Keyboard 1
Michael Feinstein UK Tour. Musical Director/pianist
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Rehearsal Pianist (Michael Harrison Entertainment)
2020
School Of Rock. Keyboard 2 (Really Useful Group)
Nashville Country Classics. Keyboard 1/co-orchestrator. (Halle Orchestra)
Symphonic Abba. Keyboard 1 (Halle Orchestra)
Bat Out Of Hell. Audition pianist.
2019
School Of Rock. Assistant Musical Director/Keyboard 2 (Really Useful Group)
Ministry of Sound Annual Classical. Keyboard 1 (Raymond Gubbay Ltd)
Now That’s What I Call Christmas! Keyboard 1 (Raymond Gubbay Ltd)
Nashville Country Classics. Conductor/co-orchestrator. (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra)
Nashville Country Classics. Keyboard 1/co-orchestrator. (Halle Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra)
Symphonic Abba. Keyboard 1 (Halle Orchestra)
2018
School Of Rock. Assistant Musical Director (Really Useful Group)
2017
School Of Rock. Assistant Musical Director (Really Useful Group)
2016
School Of Rock. Assistant Musical Director (Really Useful Group)
School Of Rock. Audition pianist (Really Useful Group)
Bat Out Of Hell. Audition pianist
Symphonic Abba. Keyboard 2 (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
Symphonic Latin Fiesta. Piano (The Hallé Orchestra)
Cole Porter Celebration. Piano (RSNO)
Friday Night Is Abba Night. Keyboard 2 (BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Radio 2)
2015
Jack Pack. Piano (The Graham Norton Show, BBC Radio 2.)
Elf, The Musical. Keyboard 1 depute. (Dominion Theatre, London.)
4Tunes. Musical Director. (Hippodrome, London.)
The Best of the West End At Christmas. Piano. (Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
Matthew Bourne's The Car Man, Sadler's Wells. Keyboards. (Birmingham Royal Ballet.)
Friday Night Is Music Night. Keyboards. (BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/BBC Radio 2/3/6.)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Keyboard 1 depute. (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.)
The Rocky Horror Show. Audition Pianist. (UK tour/ATG)
2014
Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds, UK/European Tour. Keyboards.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Accompanist to Susan Boyle.
Susan Boyle in Concert 2014. UK & US tour. Arranger/orchestrator/Music Director/Pianist. (Marshall Arts/Speur Ltd.)
2013
White Christmas. Keyboard 1. (Edinburgh Festival Theatre/Michael Rose Ltd.)
Dance Derby. Arranger/orchestrator/Music Director/Pianist. (Scottish Opera/Company Chordelia.)
Susan Boyle in Concert 2013. Arranger/orchestrator/Music Director/Pianist. (Marshall Arts/Speur Ltd.)
2012
Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds, UK/European Tour. Keyboards.
I Dreamed A Dream, The Susan Boyle Musical, Michael Harrison Entertainment. Musical Supervisor/Orchestrator/Musical Director.
Jesus Christ Superstar, Ljubljana Festival, Slovenia. Keyboard 1.
Between Weathers, b4films. Musical Director/Music Producer/Arranger.
2011
Between Weathers, b4films. Musical Director/Music Producer/Arranger.
Jack And The Beanstalk, Qdos Pantomimes, Piano/MD.
Love And Money, The Devil’s Debt. String arranger/conductor.
Fleck. Writer: Alasdair Gray, Music: Andy Park. Keyboards.
Tenors Unlimited CD, The Rat Pack Of Opera. Conductor/Arranger/Piano.
2010
Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds, UK/European Tour. Keyboards.
Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert/DVD, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. Keyboards.
Between Weathers, b4films. Musical Director/Music Producer/Arranger.
Tenors Unlimited, Nibmusic Ltd./Diageo/UK Tour. Piano/Musical Director.
Qualified as Logic Pro 9 ‘Master Pro’ attending Alchemea, London.
Tonight’s The Night, Series 2, BBCtv. Piano.
Pantomime In Scotland Live, University Of Glasgow/Orchestra Of Scottish Opera. Arranger/Conductor.
Into The Woods, GAMTA. Musical Director.
2009
Sleeping Beauty, GAMTA, Arranger/Musical Supervisor
Cinderella, Qdos Pantomimes. Piano/MD.
Friday Night Is Music Night, The Swingcats/BBC Radio 2. Piano/MD/Arranger.
The Winter King, Stuart McKillop/Maggie Reilly. Conductor/Musical Director
Pantomime In Scotland, Glasgow University/The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. Arranger/Conductor.
Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds, UK/European Tour, Keyboards.
Burns Supper. Arranger.
2008
Beauty And The Beast, GAMTA. Arranger/Musical Supervisor.
Highland Heartbeat, Kennedy Productions/PBS, Musical Director/Arranger/Piano & Keyboards
Strictly Come Dancing UK Tour, BBC Worldwide/Stage Entertainments, Principal keyboard.
Cry of the Celts, Jmusic Ltd. Studio Musical Director/Conductor.
2007
Duan Nollaig, Midas TV for STV, Keyboard player
Sleeping Beauty, King’s Theatre, Glasgow. Keyboard player.
Elaine C. Smith, ‘Twelve Nights of Christmas’ Oran Mor. Musical Director.
QE2/Queen Victoria. Production arranger.
White Christmas, Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh. Pianist.
The Music Of Dirty Dancing, UK tour. Keyboard player.
Riverdance, US/Canada national tour. Musical Director.
2006
Riverdance, Mexico/US Autumn tour. Musical Director.
Rikki & Me, Scottish tour. Arranger/Orchestrator & Music Producer.
Evita, Adelphi Theatre, London. Keyboard 1 depute.
Riverdance, US/Canada Spring tour. Musical Director.
Carol Kidd, Scottish tour. Arranger, Pianist, Hammond.
The Swingcats, “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat”. CD. Producer.
Follies, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Piano.
A Real Audience With Elaine C. Smith. Scottish tour. Arranger, Pianist.
2005
Riverdance, Mexico/US Autumn tour. Musical Director.
West End Girls, Jersey Opera House. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
2004
Little Shop Of Horrors. Jersey Opera House. Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator, Contractor.
Riverdance, European tour. Musical Director.
Carol Kidd, Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Arranger/Conductor, Pianist.
Peter Pan, Qdos, His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen. Musical Director.
2003
Grease, Jersey Opera House. Musical Director.
Just For Joe. RPM Arts. Arranger, Orchestrator, Musical Director/Supervisor.
Alyson Orr,“The Age Of Content”. CD. Producer, Arranger, Musical Director, Piano.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Palladium Theatre, London. Cover conductor, Keyboard player, rehearsal/audition pianist.
Tonight’s The Night, Phil McIntyre Productions. Audition pianist.
When They Lay Bare, Celtic Connections, World Premiere, Ballad Opera by Mark Sheridan. Conductor.
2002
Just For Joe, RPM Arts. Arranger, Pianist.
Sunset Boulevard, UK tour. Keyboard 1.
Children’s Gala Concert, Carol Kidd, Orchestra of Scottish Opera. Piano.
2001
Babes In The Wood, King’s Theatre, Glasgow. Musical Supervisor, Arranger, Orchestrator.
Jesus Christ Superstar, UK tour. Musical Director, Conductor.
Elaine, BBC Scotland/RPM Arts. Music Producer, Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
Nanci Griffiths, The Dustbowl Symphony. Orchestra of Scottish Opera. Conductor.
2000
The Beautiful Game, Cambridge Theatre, London. Musical Director.
Elaine C. Smith, Hormonally Driven!! RPM Arts. Musical Supervisor, Arranger, Orchestrator.
Jesus Christ Superstar, UK/European tour. Musical Director/Conductor.
1999
Jesus Christ Superstar, Film. Assistant Musical Director, Piano/Keyboards, Audition/Rehearsal Pianist.
Cats, New London Theatre, London. Assistant Musical Director/Conductor. Keyboard 2, Audition/Rehearsal Pianist.
1998
Saturday Night Fever, Palladium Theatre, London. Assistant Musical Director/Conductor. Piano/Keyboards.
Barclays Bank Theatre Awards, Anglia Television. Musical Director/Conductor, Arranger, Orchestrator.
1997
Jesus Christ Superstar, Lyceum Theatre, Covent Garden. 2nd Assistant Musical Director, Piano/Keyboards.
Barclays Bank Theatre Awards, Anglia Television. Musical Director/Piano. Arranger, Orchestrator.
Elaine With Attitude, RPM Arts. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
1996
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Colloseum, Essen. Rehearsal pianist, rehearsal conductor.
Kelly, Ulster Television. Title Music. Composer, Producer, Arranger, Musical Director.
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, UK Tour. Keyboard 1.
1995
Babes In The Wood, King’s Theatre, Edinburgh. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
Don’t Give Up Your Day Job, BBC Scotland. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. UK tour. Keyboard 1.
1994
Cinderella, Kings Theatre Edinburgh. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
University of Strathclyde, Music Lecturer. Teaching piano, creative skills, keyboard versatility and arranging. Course and assessment development.1993
Sleeping Beauty, Kings Theatre Edinburgh. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
1992
Dick Whittington, Kings Theatre Edinburgh. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
1991
Babes In The Wood, McRobert Arts Centre, Stirling. Musical Director, Arranger, Orchestrator.
PGCE (Secondary Music), Faculty of Education, University of Strathclyde.
National Tours: The Three Degrees, The Supremes, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Martha Reeves
1986-1991
BBCtv.
Opportunity Knocks, series 1-4, Les Dawson Show, Noel’s House Party, Song For Europe, Noel’s Christmas, Noel’s Easter. Music Associate, Arranger, Orchestrator, piano/synthesizers, rehearsal/audition pianist.
Only Fools And Horses, “Stagefright”. Music Producer, Musical Director, Arranger.
Thames Television.
The Best of Magic series 1 & 2. Music Associate, Composer, Arranger, rehearsal pianist.
London Weekend Television.
The Big, Big Talent Show, series 1 &2. Barrymore. My Kind Of Music. Music Associate, piano/synthesizers, audition/rehearsal pianist.
Various tours/one nighters including RPO, RPO Pops, RSNO, Scottish Opera, Brenda Cochrane, Joe Longthorne, extensive cabaret and light entertainment, residency at Blazers night club, Windsor.
1985
Mother Goose, Kings Theatre, Glasgow. Piano/synthesizers, rehearsal pianist.
BBCtv. The 1986 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh. Music Associate, rehearsal pianist. (August 1985-July 1986)
EDUCATION
PGCE (Secondary Music), Faculty of Education, University of Strathclyde. 1991.
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Diploma in Musical Education. 1979-1982.
Prize for general good work 1982.
Bannerman High School, Glasgow. 1972-1979
Higher grade English, Physics, Music.
Standard Grade Arithmetic, English, History, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Music.
Associated Board Grade 8 Piano, Tuba, Theory, Grade 7 General Musicianship.