Regarded as one of the UK’s most accomplished and versatile wooden flautists and as a leading DADGAD guitarist and composer.
Edinburgh based Tom Oakes (Bmus) has spent the last decade ploughing many different furrows as an Irish traditional musician, composer, producer, contemporary artist, collaborator, teacher, event organiser and special needs facilitator***
Playing, touring and collaborating with musicians in Australia, India, Morocco, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany and across the UK.
Working with scenes as diverse as Arabic Hip-Hop + Moroccan Gnawa (In Marrakech and Casablanca, contemporary bluegrass (With Laura Cortese and the dance cards), Indian traditional, classical and bhangra music (In residency in Mumbai) Scandinavian traditional music and jazz (across Scandinavia**) and on projects with the Northern Sinfonia, Mc Fall’s Chamber (Featuring Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and RSNO) and the pan-global Solaris String Quartet (In the UK)
His flute playing has led to him being principle traditional flute tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and for final year students at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (Where he graduated in 2005). He is co-director of the Great Scottish Flute Night and director of 'Winter Trad’. The latter a weekend of music and teaching based around his duo with Shetland fiddle star Ross Couper.
Other teaching accolades have included senior flute and guitar teaching positions at Feis Rois, Paris Irish Association, Comhaltas (also as adjudicator), Tinto Summer School, Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), Cambridge Folk Festival and many more.
Tom’s diverse musical journeys feed directly into his work. As a flautist he stays true to his Irish routes but has studied intensely the styles, technique and culture of all the other traditions he has been immersed in. This manifests itself in his performance, composition and teaching. Tom’s students at degree level are exposed to everything from contemporary classical music and free improvisation to the regional styles of Scottish and Irish traditional music.
A new project The Tom Oakes Experiment* features Tom’s compositions alongside his passion for Irish flute playing. This premiered at this years Edinburgh Fringe where he also featured in shows by friend and world renowned flautist Cathal McConnel and in a televised concert with duo partner Ross Couper.
Edinburgh based Tom Oakes (Bmus) has spent the last decade ploughing many different furrows as an Irish traditional musician, composer, producer, contemporary artist, collaborator, teacher, event organiser and special needs facilitator***
Playing, touring and collaborating with musicians in Australia, India, Morocco, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany and across the UK.
Working with scenes as diverse as Arabic Hip-Hop + Moroccan Gnawa (In Marrakech and Casablanca, contemporary bluegrass (With Laura Cortese and the dance cards), Indian traditional, classical and bhangra music (In residency in Mumbai) Scandinavian traditional music and jazz (across Scandinavia**) and on projects with the Northern Sinfonia, Mc Fall’s Chamber (Featuring Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and RSNO) and the pan-global Solaris String Quartet (In the UK)
His flute playing has led to him being principle traditional flute tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and for final year students at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (Where he graduated in 2005). He is co-director of the Great Scottish Flute Night and director of 'Winter Trad’. The latter a weekend of music and teaching based around his duo with Shetland fiddle star Ross Couper.
Other teaching accolades have included senior flute and guitar teaching positions at Feis Rois, Paris Irish Association, Comhaltas (also as adjudicator), Tinto Summer School, Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), Cambridge Folk Festival and many more.
Tom’s diverse musical journeys feed directly into his work. As a flautist he stays true to his Irish routes but has studied intensely the styles, technique and culture of all the other traditions he has been immersed in. This manifests itself in his performance, composition and teaching. Tom’s students at degree level are exposed to everything from contemporary classical music and free improvisation to the regional styles of Scottish and Irish traditional music.
A new project The Tom Oakes Experiment* features Tom’s compositions alongside his passion for Irish flute playing. This premiered at this years Edinburgh Fringe where he also featured in shows by friend and world renowned flautist Cathal McConnel and in a televised concert with duo partner Ross Couper.
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* Tom is joined in The T.O.E. by multi-award winning Percussionist, Iain Sandilands (Jenna Reid, Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, SSO, Grit Orchestra) Pianist, James Ross (Michelle Burke, Mc Fall’s Chamber, Anna-Wendy Stevenson) and Double Bassist, Stuart MacPherson (Grit Orchestra) and from time to time Adam Sutherland (Treacherous Orchestra, Session A9) on Fiddle and Andy May (Baltic Crossing, Tsummi Sound System) on Pipes, Piano and Harmonium.
** Tom’s passion for Scandinavian music let to the formation of the pan-Finnish 'Auvo Quartet’ (2002-2010), collaborating in Norway with Sigrid Moldestad on her Blagras project, touring Sweden with Ethno on the Road and with Ross Couper and touring and collaborating across Denmark with pop phenomenon Lukas Graham. *** Tom has worked for Glasgow based Paragon Music since 2010 as a facilitator for adults and children with additional support needs. He is a specialist in inclusive workshops, teaching and writing for ensembles with varying support needs. Paragon have worked across Scotland as well as visiting India in 2014 to work with the Adapt Charity in Mumbai. |
Tom plays an eight key, cocuswood flute by Michael Grinter. Whistles by Ian Corrigan,
uses Thalia Capos and Dadaario 'Pro-Arte' Strings.
uses Thalia Capos and Dadaario 'Pro-Arte' Strings.