Tim Smithies is Managing Director of Metronome, a recording company based in Penryn which has won several Gramophone Awards for its classical music productions. Metronome is also a niche independent distributor of world, jazz, childrens’ and classical music in the UK and internationally. Tim is actively involved in live music promotion in Cornwall. He is Project Manager of the rural touring scheme Carn to Cove, programmes music in the "Fal River Festival" and ran the Audiovoice education project in National Trust properties around Cornwall. Previous jobs include General Manager of English Touring Opera and Head of International Marketing of Nimbus Records
Phil is a composer for theatre and film, a producer and sound engineer with a studio in Redruth as well as being one of Cornwall’s leading community musicians. He has worked with a bewildering range of individuals and organisations over the last 25 years. He grew up in the Camborne area before disappearing to London for a while to play stunt guitar in a rock band. He returned to Cornwall with a plan to build a studio at the bottom of the garden and to start working with young people and to encourage as many other people as possible to start making a racket. These days Phil’s range of musical activity has broadened to encompass a huge range of styles and genres. He is very happy to be involved in Cornwall Music Forum
I’ve been the Director of Creative Skills, since it inception in January 2001. During that time, the organisation has worked with 1900 practitioners across all artforms and it has been inspiring to work with and assist so many creative individuals.
Before joining Creative Skills I worked with Kneehigh Theatre, Cornwall’s international theatre company, for ten years. Initially I was their part time administrator and subsequently the Marketing Manager.
I moved from London to Cornwall 28 years ago and apart from Kneehigh and Creative Skills I have also been the Retail Manager for Lands End; Editor of the first holiday magazine for Cornwall – ‘ Cornwall Holidays’ and ceramic technician at Truro School.
Last year I successfully completed an AS level Fine Art Textile course at Truro College and have just graduated with an MA in 20th Century Art and Design, Histories and Theories from University College Falmouth. Now, better late than never, I am beginning to resume my creative practice, which has been on hold since undertaking the Fine Art Foundation course at Falmouth College of Art in 1990!
Marc is a saxophonist, flautist and educator. His career started as a busker in Paris during the summer of 1986, where he was profoundly influenced by the presence of US sax legend Dexter Gordon. In 1987 he took a diploma in Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied under Don Rendell, Jean Toussaint and John Harle; and then worked in London for nearly two decades doing sessions for companies including Chrysalis, Virgin Records, Channel 4, BBC 2, Granada, Kudos and Diverse.
Marc has toured in the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands, spent eight years with Brazilian/Latino dance band "Viramundo" and worked with West African musicians, including members of Fela Kuti’s orchestra. Since moving to Cornwall in 2004 he has worked with the Knee High Theatre and at The Eden Project winter seasons; and featured on "8am", the acclaimed 2008 album release by Kris Gayle. Marc is a mentor and tutor for The SouthWest Music School, teaches at Dartington College of Arts/UCF and at Truro College (Jazz degree course.) He is currently arranging and leading the brass section in the popular Penzance-based Salsa band, "Kabasa."
Jane has been at the Eden Project since 2000. She was headhunted to help produce the Opening Ceremony, which didnt happen due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and is currently working on the 10th Birthday celebrations which she hopes will deliver the party of all parties! Her role involves overseeing the entire technical and artiste delivery of the Sessions as well as all of the other projects both on site and outside of Eden. She recently project managed Prince Charles A Garden Party with a Difference at Clarence House, London.
Prior to moving to Cornwall, Jane was a Freelance Production Manager and Producer working in both the corporate and music industries. She had just returned for a long stint in South America where she worked on a major film project for British Airways and major touring music artistes. Prior to that she was in the Middle East for ten years then returned to work at Knebworth where she worked on various festivals and large outdoor events and then went on to run large scale festivals and classical concerts both nationally and internationally working for major suppliers in the music industry such as Star Events.
Her earliest music memories was as a backing singer for various punk bands living in Bromley, Kent meant she grew up with the Bromley Contingent and the Sex Pistols, Billy Idol and Bowie and has managed various bands over the years.
Getting the Eden Sessions off the ground and watching them grow has been incredible and being voted by The Independent as the No. 1 Best Rock Venue in the UK is a brilliant accolade.
Amanda Pickering has worked as a community musician for the past 17 years, through her involvement in the West African djembe tradition. She has led festivals, worked with pre-schoolers, run hundreds of school workshops and projects, and even taught the Director of the Chase Manhattan Bank how to drum during a team building workshop in Seville. Since moving back to Cornwall seven years ago, Amanda has taken on the part-time role of Music Development Worker at Humphry Davy School and Community Music College in Penzance, and works there to develop musical opportunities for young people and the community in Penwith.
Born in Airdrie Scotland 1957, son of a brilliant pianist. Settled in Cornwall during the early 1970's. Earliest influences being Marc Bolan, Mott the Hoople, David Bowie, The Stones, Nazareth and Chuck Berry. Later on, players such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanon, Santana, Les Paul and Chet Atkins were absorbed. Self-financed the production of 11 CD's of music and to date has written over 80 diverse songs and instrumentals. Recorded debut album 'Birds of Prey' in 1987, ran a recording studio 'Granite Music' and guitar shop 'Flamingo Music' both in Cornwall. Became the UK demonstrator for 'Carlton Guitar Amps' and continued on to play and work with many professionals all over the UK and Europe. In April 1999, survived a near fatal 90ft cliff fall in Cornwall and was considered very lucky to escape with only a broken hip and hand fractures! After moving to Cumbria in 2001 played at The Kirkland Festival, Kendal, twice. The Brewery Arts Centre. The first Kendal International Guitar Festival with Jerry Donahue, Gordon Giltrap, Johnny Dickinson, Les Wilson & the Mighty House Rockers and Aynsley Lister. Maryport Blues Festival (2004) Colne Blues Festival (2004 & 2005) The Glasgow International Blues Festival (2005) Beauvais International Blues Festival, France (2006)
Shared stages with Clannad. Wilko Johnson. Tom Principato. Joanna Conner. Mick Pinni. Ten Years After. Kent DuChaine. Nine Below Zero & Lou Martin (Rory Gallagher's keyboard player) Highlight of 2004 was meeting and actually jamming with Jerry Donahue (master of the Telecaster) at The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. Over 30 years experience and based in Cornwall with his wife Vivienne, 2 Greyhounds, Keira and Dazzle plus Ptolomy the tortoise. An eclectic mixture of blues, rock, country, jazz and funk.
Currently writing music for the Film and TV Industry. Performing live and running his 'Melting Pot' jam nights in Cornwall
Dare Mason is a sound engineer and record producer who runs the VIP Lounge recording studio based in Penzance. He was trained at the world famous Townhouse Studios in London in the eighties working with artists such as Prince, Paul McCartney and Tina Turner. After graduating to house engineer, Dare went freelance and engineered records for Placebo, The Grid and The Church among others. In 2001 he moved to Cornwall and opened the VIP Lounge and has recorded many local bands as well as artists from overseas. Dare promotes local music through regularly releasing CD compilations of local bands and artists.
