Performer

Profile

Simon holds a Bmus with Honours degree (1st class) from Massey University where he studied under Debbie Rawson. Since 2005 he has been a contract player for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philhamonia since July 2007. He has performed and toured extensively in New Zealand with chamber ensembles Saxcess and Tango Virtuosi including tours for Chamber Music New Zealand in 2004. Simon was formerly principal saxophone for the Central Band of the RNZAF for which he was a feature artist. He has also performed in North America, France, Austria and Australia and had lessons and master classes with Johan Van der Linden (Netherlands), Prof. Kenneth Tse (America), Mark Walton (Australia/NZ) and Barry Cockcroft (Australia).

Simon has just been accepted to study with Johan Van der Linden at a prestigious school in the Netherlands, the Messiaen Academy.

Simon has received numerous awards for his playing including winning best saxophonist under 30 at the International Festival of Single Reeds in Melbourne (2005), 3rd place in the National Concerto Competition (2003), 4th place in the Rotorua Concerto Competition (2003) and was a semi finalist and awarded best New Zealand wind player at the Gisborne International Music Competitions (2003). He also received an Aotearoa Arts grant for travel in 2006.

Simon has premiered many new compositions including works by Gareth Farr, Dylan Lardelli, Michael Vinten, David Hamilton and Dorothy Buchanan.

As a promising conductor he is honing his skills with regular tuition from Michael Vinten and assisting in the preparation and conducting of repertoire with the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, for which he has been the assistant conductor since 2003. In this capacity Simon has conducted at Artsplash, the yearly Wellington City Councils’ Young Peoples’ Music and Dance Festival held at the Michael Fowler Centre.

In 2005 he was invited to participate in the Auckland Philharmonia Conducting Workshop.