Tim Crooks & Clara Rundell
Tim Crooks (Musical Director) has a wealth of experience in different sectors of the music industry, from live performance to orchestrating and recording.
Originally working as an orchestral violinist Tim quickly advanced to writing and arranging for recordings and live projects, including pop tracks and cross-genre orchestral projects. His wide-ranging performing career has taken him from Stockport Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera house, and even the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury festival. Tim has worked extensively with Manchester Camerata on projects in many styles, including House, Gospel, Disco and many more!
His pop string writing for Manchester String Quartet has been featured by Jarvis Cocker on 6 Music. As a music educator Tim has led projects for Manchester Camerata and Opera North (In Harmony), and has worked with Stockport Youth Orchestra since 2006.
Clara Rundell graduated from the University of Manchester in 2019 where she received a first-class bachelor’s degree in Music. She is now pursuing a career as a freelance musician based in Manchester. Clara is passionate about many different forms of music making and spends her time teaching, conducting and performing. At the University of Manchester, Clara studied conducting with Robert Guy and was selected for the prestigious conducting training programme. Through this programme Clara conducted a number of ensembles including Ad Solem Chamber Choir, the Cosmo Singers, the University of Manchester Chorus and the University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra. In 2019 Clara was appointed as Musical Director for Hallam Choral Society and Knutsford Youth Orchestra and more recently became the Musical Director for the Manchester Philharmonic Choir. Clara was a member of Stockport Youth Orchestra for many years and went on to study the cello with Jennifer Langridge at Manchester University where she was principal cellist of the University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra. Clara still performs regularly with the Eskandari String Quartet and a number of ensembles in and around Manchester. Clara is also passionate about music education and teaches the cello and piano at Manchester High School for Girls as well as having a number of private students.
