THE PRESS KIT.

An alumnus of Trinity College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, and the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Callum Rookes is a British-European conductor and brass musician whose career spans elite performance, international conducting, and higher-education teaching.

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Callum’s musical foundations were shaped by formative early mentorship, leading to his appointment as Principal Tuba of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and acceptance to Trinity College of Music, where he studied under Ashley “George” Wall of the Royal Opera House and internationally renowned jazz tubist Oren Marshall. While at Trinity, Callum achieved notable solo success, becoming a semi-finalist in the prestigious Gold Medal competition. He also served as Principal Tuba of the World Youth Orchestra and appeared at Lincoln Center as principal tubist of the Birmingham Symphonic Winds. Alongside this, he immersed himself in the orchestral traditions of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Opera House.

 

Seeking further artistic development, Callum pursued advanced studies in Europe, accepting places at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt and the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, before completing a master’s degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music under internationally acclaimed tuba soloist Jens-Björn Larsen.

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During his time in Denmark, Callum performed professionally with leading ensembles including the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Prinsens Musikkorps, and Randers Kammerorkester. He appeared as a soloist at the RAMA International Music Festival in Aarhus Symphony Hall, performed as guest soloist with the Remus Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg, and presented the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto at the Guildhall, Cambridge.

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Callum later joined the world-renowned Band of the Coldstream Guards, performing extensively across Europe and Asia and supporting United Nations operations in Cyprus. In 2017, he placed third in the Household Division Musician of the Year competition. He transferred to the Central Band of the Royal Air Force in 2021, participating in major national events including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the State Opening of Parliament, alongside regular appearances in national and international media.

Callum has featured in numerous BBC broadcasts, including The Andrew Marr Show, the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, and Trooping the Colour. He has performed alongside artists such as Tom Jones, James Blunt, Bryn Terfel, Sir Willard White, and Jeff Goldblum, and appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall Christmas Spectacular. In 2022, he was deeply honoured to perform at the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as part of the combined bands of the Royal Air Force.

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Now focused primarily on conducting, Callum made his American conducting debut with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, has guest conducted the San Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra, and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Wind Ensemble. In the UK, he has led ensembles including the Birmingham Symphonic Winds, Brent Symphony Orchestra, The Brass Foundry, the Band of the Coldstream Guards, and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.

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In 2024, Callum became Musical Director of the London Video Game Orchestra, leading a sell-out season and further establishing the genre on the concert platform. He has also served as Musical Director of Thame Concert Band and previously held leadership roles with Aylesbury Concert Band, Enfield Film Orchestra, London People’s Orchestra, Highgate and Muswell Hill Brass Band, Sound Force Big Band, and Vejle FDF Brass Band in Denmark.

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Alongside his professional conducting career, Callum is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Peck School of the Arts, where he studies instrumental conducting with Dr Thomas Gamboa. He is also the Musical and Creative Director of Project//Symphonic, an international scratch orchestra designed to broaden access to high-level symphonic performance.

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A full CV is available on request.

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For bookings, masterclasses, lessons, or conducting engagements, Callum welcomes professional enquiries.