THE CONDUCTOR.
"Waving the conductor's baton is a little like being in Harry Potter; except with music, the magic is very real" - Callum
Callum Rookes is a British-European conductor of great versatility,
sensitivity, and dynamism. He’s established himself as a sought after
conductor for his refreshing, humorous, and energetic demeanor on the
podium; and his sincere, warm, and inviting approach to music making.
He's enraptured audiences throughout the UK and has been invited to
conduct some of the Britain’s leading ensembles including the Birmingham
Symphonic Winds, Henley Symphony Orchestra, Brent Symphony
Orchestra, Haslemere Symphony Orchestra, and has conducted all three
bands of the Royal Air Force, as well as His Majesty’s Band of the
Coldstream Guards.
Internationally, Callum has attracted further attention and has guest
conducted the San Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra, the Denver
Philharmonic Orchestra, and the University of Milwaukee Wind Ensemble.
He’s been selected for international conducting workshops including the
Maestri Series Workshop in New York, the International Conducting Institute,
the International Sherborne Summer School for Conducting, and the University of Milwaukee Conducting Symposium.
Callum has been applauded as the most recent Musical Director of The London Video Game Orchestra, spearheading the genre with sellout performances for the LVGO's 2024 Season and working alongside leading composers of the medium, including the Bafta award winner Borislav Slavov (Baldur's Gate III). Callum also helmed the UK success story of the Thame Concert Band, who grew from a modest twelve members, to a fully fledged, national award winning concert band who have become a staple ensemble in the south of England.
Callum has received tuition from some of the most sought after clinicians in the field including Donald Schleicher, Mark Heron (Head of Conducting, Royal Northern College of Music), Diane Wittry, Bjorn Sagsted, Col. Jason Fettig ret. (Director, President’s own Marine Band), and excitingly, after the most recent symposium in Milwaukee, Callum was invited to study for a Masters in Conducting as a Graduate Teaching assistant under the tutelage of Dr Thomas Gamboa at The Peck School of the Arts. Here he’ll be actively involved in the musical life of not just UWM, but also the state of Wisconsin, and will graduate in 2026.
Education is so important to Callum who owes his passion for music to those teachers who enthused and supported his development as a child. Callum’s career has allowed him to pay it forward and has had the privilege to lead workshops in Denmark, Norway, the UK, and the USA.
In 2025, Callum will be launching his new orchestra idea: Project // Symphonic.
Photo: Olivia Wild Digital