Callum Rookes is a British-born-European conductor whose journey

into the dark art of conducting has been an unconventional one.

Picking up the baton at the cock-sure age of fifteen, it soon

became clear that he had a natural affinity for conducting, and is now in

high demand across the UK for his meticulous, engaging, motivational,

and innovative approach to music making.

An alumnus of not just Trinity College of Music, but also the Det Jyske

Musikkonservatorium in Aarhus Denmark, and the Det Kongelige

Danske Musikkonservatorium in Copenhagen;  Callum started picking

up directorship of many bands and orchestras whilst studying in

Denmark. He became the MD of the Vejle FDF brass band (Denmark) whilst having a fruitful life as a freelance conductor. Simultaneously, he was invited to conduct and coach the Cambridge Youth Wind Orchestra in the UK.

In 2014, on his return to London, Callum became the Musical Director of the Thame Concert Band where he reenergised, rebuilt, and transformed the band, successfully growing the band from an enthusiastic twelve, to a band of thirty-five. He also built their audience base from a modest few, to a hall of hundreds. Callum continues to push the TCB, and is proud to lead them for their annual "A Last Night At The Proms" Concert.

Shortly afterwards, Callum became the Musical Director of the Sound Force Big Band in Buckinghamshire, which he held until January 2018 when he went on to become the principal conductor of the London People's Orchestra, the Enfield Film Orchestra, and the The Highgate and Muswell Hill Brass Band; positions he held until late 2019 when Callum decided to audition, and consequently win the audition to be the Musical Director of the Aylesbury Concert Band, following in the footsteps of it's previous esteemed conductors such has Claire Lawrence (former Band Master, Coldstream Guards Band), Duncan Stubbs (former Principal Director of Music, RAF Music Services), and Rob Wiffin (former Principal Director of Music, RAF Music Services).​

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Callum has been at the helm of some of the UK's highest performing ensembles  such as the Birmingham Symphonic Winds, Imperial College Wind Band, City of London Symphonic Winds, London Gay Symphonic Winds, The Bloomsbury Wind Ensemble, and Brent Symphony Orchestra, and the Brass Foundry. He has also been fortunate to conduct the Band of the Coldstream Guards, and Musicians from The Central Band of the Royal Air Force.

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Currently, in the Air Force Callum is studying conducting under Mark Heron (Head of conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music) as part of the Musical Direction course. He also recently worked with Mark, Bjorn Sagstad, and Alberto Roque at the Sherbourne International School of Music Wind Conducting Course.

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Callum gives masterclasses to other ensembles in the UK seeking fresh ideas for their playing. Recently, Callum was invited as a guest conductor to the Woodwind Orchestra Play day, London, 2020, alongside James Rae, and Paul Harris, where he led a total of one-hundred and seventeen musicians.
 

In need of a conductor? A Musical Director? or maybe you're looking to dip your toe into the mystical art of conducting? Why not get in touch? Callum will try his hardest to accommodate your needs.

Callum is available internationally.

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Orchestral

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Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

Leoš Janáček - Sinfonietta

Malcolm Arnold - Fantasy on Christmas Carols

Aaron Copland - Rodeo Suite

Aaron Copland - Appalachian Spring Orchestral Suite

Beethoven- Symphony Numbers 5 and 6

Mahler - Symphony Number 1, "Titan"

Mahler - Symphony Number 2, "Resurrection"

Stravinsky - Firebird Suite

Sibelius - Symphony Number 2, and 3

Bruch - Violin Concerto Number 1

R.Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

R. Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Christmas Carols

W.Walton - Crown Imperial

W.Walton - Spitfire Prelude and Fugue

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Wind Band

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Sir Henry Wood - Fantasia on British Sea Songs

Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance March 1 

Elgar - "Nimrod", Variation IX from the Enigma Variations

Holst - First Suite for Military Band in Eb Major Op.28 - 1
Holst - Second Suite in F Major Op.28 - 2

Holst - A Moorside Suite

R.Vaughan Williams - English Folk Song Suite
R.Vaughan Williams - Sea Songs

R.Vaughan Williams - Flourish for Wind Band

Percy Grainger - Lincolnshire Posy

Percy Grainger - Molly on the Shore
Martin Ellerby - Clarinet Concerto

Martin Ellerby - Dona Nobis Pacem

Philip Sparke - Symphonic Metamorphosis

Philip Sparke - The Earl of Oxford's March
Philip Sparke - Year of the Dragon

Philip Sparke - Hymn of the Highlands Suite

Philip Sparke - Madrigalum

Philip Sparke - To a New Dawn

Philip Sparke - A Yorkshire Overture

Philip Sparke - Tuba Concerto

Nigel Hess - Thames Journey

Nigel Hess - East Coast Pictures

Nigel Hess - Stephenson's Rocket

Nigel Hess - Shakespeare Pictures
Nigel Hess - Lochnagar Suite

Nigel Hess - Ladies in Lavender

Nigel Hess - A Christmas Overture

Guy Woolfenden - Gallimaufry

Guy Woolfenden - S.P.Q.R

Guy Woolfenden - Illyrian Dances

Rossano Galante - Resplendent Glory

Rossano Galante - Afterlife

Eric Whitacre - Lux Aurumque

Eric Whitacre - October

Jean Sibelius - "Intermezzo" from the Karelia Suite

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 Photo: Olivia Wild Digital