Born in Stockton, California, and raised in Calaveras County, Ken Cave earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music at Sacramento State College (now Cal State Univ – Sacramento). After college, Ken served four years with the United States Air Force, playing throughout the Central Plains and Texas. After the service, he taught in California public schools for 45 years, mostly in the field of music, with a few other subjects included along the way.A professional musician since 1958, Ken has performed professionally with the Sacramento and Amarillo Symphonies and is currently tubist with the Symphony of the Redwoods. He also plays string bass, accordion, piano, and percussion. While living in Fort Bragg, Ken has directed a community band and currently directs both the Mendocino Coast Brass Quintet and the Mendocino Coast Brass Ensemble.
Ken joined the Symphony in 2001, not long after he moved to the area, and has served on the board since 2005. He is married, has two daughters, and four grandchildren.