Timothy Orpen
Timothy joined the RSNO as principal clarinet in 2020, following five years as principal of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He is also a founding member and principal clarinet of the Aurora Orchestra, with whom he continues to perform regularly. As a chamber musician Timothy has performed across Europe, USA and the Far East with artists including Lars Vogt, Sir Antonio Pappano, Pascal Rogé and Joshua Bell. Timothy is passionate about music education and teaches at the music school of Douglas Academy as well as at RCS.
Timothy Orpen joined the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as principal clarinet in 2020, following five years as principal of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Whilst at Covent Garden Timothy performed most of the major clarinet solos of the operatic and ballet repertoire with the world’s finest singers and conductors. Timothy is also a founder member and principal of the trail-blazing Aurora Orchestra, with whom he continues to perform regularly.
As a chamber musician he has performed across Europe, USA and the Far East with artists including Lars Vogt, Sir Antonio Pappano, Pascal Rogé and Joshua Bell. Timothy has also performed as guest principal with the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia and London Philharmonic and has been featured many times as a soloist on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3. Timothy has performed as a concerto soloist at leading venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and with orchestras including Royal Northern Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductors Nicholas Collon, Sir Barry Wordsworth and John Wilson.
Timothy has wide ranging musical interests and has performed with artists such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Klezmer band She’koyokh and the electronic artist Leafcutter John. He has commissioned new works for the clarinet and worked with many of the leading composers of our age. Timothy can also be heard on many film and TV soundtracks through his work as a session musician in London and with the RSNO.
Timothy spent his early years in Australia and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and with Wolfgang Meyer at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Germany. Whilst a student Timothy was the overall winner of the Royal Over-Seas League competition. Timothy is also passionate about music education and teaches at the music school of Douglas Academy and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.