Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tim Corpus. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tim, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As a composer I often have multiple projects going at the same time. Some are in pre-production, post-production, or in the heart of the composing process. It’s always an ebbing & flowing journey.

“Double Concerto for Percussion” – I was commissioned to compose a new concerto for percussionists Ed Harrison (Lyric Opera of Chicago) and Vadim Karpinos (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) with the Chicago College of Performing Arts, where they are both faculty. This large-scale concerto will be premiered in 2024 at Chicago’s historic Auditorium Theatre.

“Strange Creatures” – I’ve been composing music for the upcoming show “Strange Creatures” by Todd Wells”

My soundtrack to the multi-disciplinary work “Ending the War on My Body” created by Katherine McClintic, which premiered in New York City in 2022, will be coming out in the fall of 2023.

As an arts manager I just finished helping manage the Opera Festival of Chicago’s 3rd season. The festival is presented several performances across Chicago including two fully staged operas that rarely grace the stages of the United States.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started composing when I was 12, writing songs on guitar. While these first songs were very rough, I was hooked and all consumed by writing songs and music. In high school I used to get my sheet music notebook taken away because I would be sitting in a math class composing and not paying attention to the lesson at hand.

As I learned and developed more as a musician and composer, I worked more and more in managing a stage and found my way into arts management. Since 2012 I’ve been managing arts organizations and presenting events around the country. As an arts manager, my specialty has been in marketing and analytics.

My music as a composer crosses many genres, depending on the project. In 2020 I started working more on video games, and have recently been attached to many short film and art film projects. As a composer I am also often an arranger or orchestrator for other composers.

As an arts consultant, I help orchestras, opera companies, and other arts organizations achieve their goals. I have worked as a production manager, executive director, Board member, and in many other capacities. From 2017-2020, I served as Executive Director of a fully-professional symphony orchestra and was laid off at the onset of the pandemic when the organization closed it’s doors. Now I am able to work part-time with multiple arts organizations including the Hyde Park Youth Symphony, Opera Festival of Chicago, and the Charlotte New Music Festival.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Part of the reason my career has had so many different types of work is because I have often had to “go where the wind blows” in order to earn a living. This has led to a diverse career where I’ve been able to learn of a lot of different resources.

Creatives should get involved with guilds in their field. For composers that’s often organizations like ASCAP, BMI, the Society of Composers & Lyricists, and many others. I wish I had known more about these organizations and their support for young artists when I was first starting out. These are a great place to meet peers, find mentors, and learn from the community.

Many cities also have government grants that support the arts. Be sure to check out what opportunities might be available from your local government, that also includes pro bono work. Lawyers for the Creative Arts is a terrific organization that provides discounted or free legal advice to artists. We artists should take full advantage of these resources.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Change can be hard and waiting for change can be even harder. I have had a tendency to be impatient in life. In a career in the arts where work and progress ebbs and flows it can be easy to feel stuck or frustrated.

There are high times and low times and that can be difficult to deal with. I have had to learn how to deal with these internal pressures, grant myself some grace and create a healthier environment as a creative.

It’s always important to take breaks, enjoy life and always remember that in life, it’s a process, not an event.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.timcorpus.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/timcorpus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timcorpus/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/timcorpus

Image Credits
Ashley Deran Tim Corpus