Tim Smedley

Tim Smedley studied cello at the Royal Northern College of Music with Hannah Roberts having previously been a pupil at Chetham's School of Music. Since leaving the RNCM, Tim has formed a varied career, performing extensively on both modern and period instruments with many of the country’s leading orchestras and ensembles.

He frequently plays as principal cellist with the Northern Chamber Orchestra and has also played as principal with Manchester Camerata and Northern Ballet in addition to working with orchestras such as Hallé, Opera North, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chamber music has always been integral to Tim’s career and in addition to performances in many leading chamber music festivals, Tim has played extensively with the Fitzwilliam Quartet, alongside the Sacconi Quartet and with Ensemble 360. On period instruments, he has performed, toured and been part of award-winning recordings with ensembles such as Arcangelo, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Gabrieli Consort, The King's Consort and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

In contrast, Tim has also worked with a variety of bands and solo artists, most memorably being part of a six month world tour with Sting for his Symphonicities tour in 2010. As a soloist, Tim has recorded works for cello and piano by Nicholas Marshall and Christopher Wright.

Teaching has always formed an integral part of Tim's career and Tim is delighted to be part of the string team at Birmingham Conservatoire, leading chamber music activities and teaching cello. From 2006-2018 he was a tutor in cello and chamber music at Junior RNCM and held a similar role at Yorkshire Young Musicians from 2008-2018.

From 2018-2022, Tim was Head of Strings at King's College School in Wimbledon. He also teaches cello at the University of Sheffield and the University of York. Tim regularly teaches on a variety of summer courses and has also given masterclasses at the Shanghai Conservatory, China Conservatory (Beijing), Central Conservatory (Beijing), Xinghai Conservatory and Xiamen University.

In 2023, Tim was a guest panellist at the Music Teacher’s Association annual conference, has been a specialist string assessor at Wells Cathedral School and adjudicated a variety of string prizes at the RNCM, Eton College, Bedford School and Loughborough School.