Toby Cruse...
Toby is a British musician, producer and artist manager. He is CEO of Manhattan Music Ltd/TCL, incorporating several divisions, including Toby Cruse Productions. He also works as an exclusive celebrity booking agent.
As a professional musician, Toby has worked on over 200 theatrical productions, many in the West End and on tour, both as Musical Director/Supervisor, orchestral musician and/or vocal coach, and is recognised internationally as an authority on musical theatre. As a session and television musician, he has worked with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Dina Carroll, Michael Ball, Katherine Jenkins, Josh Groban, Hayley Westenra, Jonathan Ansell, Michael Feinstein, Issy Van Randwyck and The Real Thing as well as with numerous pop bands, jazz ensembles and Big Bands including his own Manhattan Swing. Recent studio work includes a revival session with the BBC Radio Orchestra and a recording of excerpts from the musical "Cabaret". He has also made recent appearances on BBC1's "Last Choir Standing" and on Channel 4 and Sky 1. As a classical pianist, he has performed extensively, winning competitions for his interpretation of Chopin and Rachmaninov. He has also performed several piano concertos, including the famous "Rach 2", and works throughout the UK as an accompanist/repetiteur. He also works as an audition and rehearsal MD/pianist for a number of production companies and agents. An active jazz pianist, he regularly appears at top London jazz venues and hotels. He has performed for royalty at Windsor Castle on several occasions and has also made recent appearances with the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra, the Steve King Orchestra and the Mark Tait Band. In 1999, he formed the Thames Valley Sinfonia and Thames Valley Sinfonia Chorus and has since been invited to conduct a variety of other ensembles. He is frequently asked to coach bands, choirs and, as a voice teacher, soloists, and also finds time to run workshops for various theatrical and contemporary music institutions.
He studied at Trinity College of Music, London, and with tutors from other music colleges across the UK.
Toby also has other business interests, including a small property company, and is Director and a shareholder of Mayfair Fashion (www.mfmag.co.uk) - a luxury lifestyle magazine in the heart of Mayfair and the West End of London. He is also involved with the newly-launched Melody Radio (www.melodyradiouk.com) and a new music festival - M Fest - in Berkshire.
