Tim Harrison is musical director of Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra and Bristol Youth Orchestra as well as frequently working as a guest conductor.
Tim hails from Neath, South Wales and studied music at the University of Bristol, specialising in performance, composition and orchestration. He progressed to a masters degree in performance on the viola at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and following this, continued as a post-graduate training conductor, gaining a PGDip with Distinction for his performances.
Tim now combines a career as a freelance musician with being a secondary classroom music teacher, including working closely with training music teachers. Tim is also the Ensembles Creative Lead at Bristol Beacon, which involves providing Teaching and Learning guidance for youth ensemble leaders. As a conductor, he has conducted many performances in the South West in recent years as musical director of Bristol Chamber Orchestra, Wessex Concert Orchestra, Clevedon Chamber Orchestra, Hereford String Orchestra, Sinfonia Newydd (in Cardiff) and the youth orchestra in North Somerset. Other recent engagements include guest appearances with Bristol Concert Orchestra, New Bristol Sinfonia and Keynsham Orchestra.
Tim is known for his energetic performances, careful attention to stylistic elements, innovative programmes and light-hearted, but informative, interactions with audiences.
Tim is passionate about working with youth orchestras as it combines his passion for symphonic repertoire, working with young people and performing as a conductor. Having had an extremely positive experience at West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales as a student, he believes the youth orchestra is a very important institution for all and has campaigned and lobbied for fairer funding for youth music.