Tim Boulton

Tim Boulton received his early musical education at specialist music school and music college, but learnt the most important lessons about musical language from Sandor Végh and other senior musicians at IMS.  Drawn to the region by the beauty of the sea and granite cliffs, he and his family have been living in West Cornwall since 2003.

Before that time, Tim was based in London, performing with a number of highly respected chamber groups and chamber orchestras, including the Vellinger String Quartet, Raphael Ensemble and the award winning piano quartet Domus.  Orchestral experience includes extensive work with the English Chamber Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields and Chamber Orchestra of Europe, as well as a number of period instrument orchestras.  He was a Professor at Guildhall School of Music & Drama for 17 years teaching viola and chamber music, with responsibilities which brought him onto contact with the entire string programme from junior to post graduate levels.

A natural musical communicator, inspired equally by performing, conducting and teaching, he is now committed to music education and performance in the South West of England, while still engaging in musical life further afield, often performing as guest with string quartets and chamber music groups.

He has established several new initiatives for string players for Music Cornwall, and became Director of Cornwall Youth Orchestra in 2008. Tim is particularly proud of the achievements of the Penzance Youth String Orchestra.  Over the last few years he has developed a wealth of musical collaborations and projects with Cornish composers Graham Fitkin, Jim Aitchison, Simon Milton, Eseld Parker and Russell Pascoe, with Tate St. Ives, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, International Musicians Seminars, the London Gypsy Orchestra, folk violinists from Denmark and Sweden, and many others.  He enjoys helping build bridges between musicians and arts organisations for the benefit of young people and the wider community in Cornwall and the South West, and is closely involved with the South West Music School as teacher, mentor and project leader.