Biography

Jim O'Toole grew up in Lowestoft and now lives in Pakefield. After graduating in music from the University of Edinburgh in 2001, He spent six months touring with the European Union Baroque Orchestra, which took him as to China and all over Europe, and he has sailed halfway round the world whilst performing on cruise ships. Jim studied historical performance at the Royal Academy of Music and has played baroque violin and viola with many period instrument orchestras including La Serenissima, English Touring Opera, Irish Baroque Orchestra, The Classical Opera Company and others. He recently recorded a CD of English traditional and medieval folk songs with Joglaresa, for whom he also plays medieval fiddle. Jim occasionally directs Norwich Baroque and the Saint Felix String Group where he is employed as a string teacher. A keen folk-fiddler, Jim co-founded the band Licence to Ceilidh in 2001 for whom he regularly calls and plays for ceilidh dances. Jim enjoys growing vegetables and meditating, and is planning to compete in the 2011 Fritton Lake Triathlon to raise money for mental health charity Mind.