Timothy Fawkes is Instructor and Music Director of the UIC Orchestra. In his two decades as teacher, musician, and leader, Tim has worked with musicians of nearly every age and skill level. In addition to his work at UIC, Tim currently teaches music at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL, where his responsibilities include three levels of orchestra, two levels of guitar, and several co-curricular ensembles and clubs. Under Tim’s direction, the Glenbard East orchestras have collaborated with numerous colleges and professional artists and have presented two performances at the Illinois Music Education Conference.
Tim’s teaching career has spanned several states, grade levels, and content areas. He was assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and instrumental/general music teacher in the Philadelphia public schools. He has taught courses at The University of Texas and presented at colleges including The Ohio State University and the University of South Carolina. He began his career at Lake Zurich (Illinois) High School.
A passionate advocate for expanding access to the arts, Tim has managed education and community engagement programs for The Philadelphia Orchestra and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. He has been music director of the University of Texas Opera Society and has conducted the Dallas Wind Symphony. In addition to his work on cello and guitar, Tim plays trumpet in the band Midnight Hour, which pays tribute to Memphis soul music of the 1960s. Tim is also currently president of the Illinois unit of the American String Teachers Association (IL ASTA). He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a M.M. in conducting, and Northwestern University, with a B.M. in Music Education.