Simon Davies

Professor in Contrabassoon

Email: [email protected]

Since 2017, Simon has held the position of contrabassoon with the Hallé, a role he previously enjoyed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

A 2005 graduate of the RNCM, Simon studied bassoon with Alan Pendlebury and David Chatwin and contrabassoon with Nick Lander. At the College, Simon was awarded a BMus (Hons) and two PPRNCM diplomas in solo playing and chamber music with the wind quintet Northerly Winds.

Following his studies, Simon embarked on an enjoyable year with Southbank Sinfonia (2006) and subsequently cultivated a freelance career with orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber, BBC Symphony, London Symphony and Mahler Chamber. A recent highlight was a broadcast of a live recording of Erwin Schulhoff’s Bassnachtigall for solo contrabassoon on BBC Radio 3 as part of Ensemble 360’s May festival.

Simon is also a tutor of contrabassoon and bassoon at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and has taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.