Biography

From Bury, Lancashire, Simon studied at Chetham’s School of Music Manchester before entering the Royal Northern College of Music in 1990. His extensive awards list includes the RNCM's John Wray Prize, Chetham's Dennis Midwood Prize for Brass, 3rd place in the BBC "Young Musician of the Year" brass final, and the Harry Mortimer Solo Award from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

He has worked with the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Royal Opera House, Hallé, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC NOW, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North, Royal Scottish National and Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestras. Simon has also performed as a soloist with both the RNCM Wind Orchestra and Brass Band as well as performing with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

In February 2002, Simon was appointed Principal Trombone with the BBC SSO where he continues to perform as a soloist. He has played ‘Keren’ by Xenakis and Lyell Creswell’s 'Kaea' for BBC Radio 3, Frank Martin's ‘Ballade’ and Terry Johns' ‘One Day’ for BBC Radio Scotland, and he made a brief outing as a six foot black and white cat for ‘Making Tracks’ in John Maxwell Geddes' ‘Alley Cat’! Simon also played ‘Barchan’ a BBC Commission by Anna Meredith for trombone and ‘low orchestra’.

In addition Simon plays in the Nemo Brass Quintet with whom he won the Premier Prix at the 1994 Narbonne International Brass Quintet competition as well as the Royal Overseas League Ensemble prize in the same year and the Moers Brass Quintet competition in Germany a year later. The group has performed on BBC TV and radio, Granada TV, French TV and radio, German TV and radio and Classic FM as well as performing at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St David’s Hall Cardiff and The Bridgewater Hall Manchester.