Simon was one of the founder members of the Palatinate Ensemble and ran most of the group's affairs for the first eighteen months. A promising pianist from a very young age...

                                                            ... he turned down the chance of an international career (!) to become a cellist and singer. His musical education began with the Southend Boys Choir with whom he performed at many London venues: the highlight being his Proms debut at the age of ten. He then became a chorister - and subsequently head-chorister - at Peterborough Cathedral and was educated at the King's School, Peterborough.

He came to Durham in 1997, nominally to read history, but whilst there was heavily involved in music. A choral scholar at the Cathedral, he also played with the University Orchestral Society, sang with Palatinate Voices, and was instrumental in the foundation of two groups, Quintessence - a close-harmony barbershop group - and the Palatinate Ensemble. He graduated with a B.A in history and an M.A. in medieval history in 2001 and is now a chartered accountant working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Simon also plays with Durham Sinfonia and sings with Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers.

Updated 03/11/07