This biography for information only - not for use in concert programmes

Young English violinist Simon Hewitt Jones holds the 2001/2 ABRSM (Associated Board) undergraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. He started to study there with professor Hu Kun in 2001, and has since begun to perform extensively in a wide variety of solo and chamber performances. His recent success in several competitions - notably the Sevenoaks and Eastbourne Soloist competitions - resulted in many acclaimed performances with symphony orchestras in Southeast England (“a born performer… a name to watch” – Croydon Advertiser. “Fresh and exciting and with such a maturity of sound one couldn’t fail to be drawn into it” - Sevenoaks Chronicle, January 2002).

Simon is a passionate advocate of digital music media, and is receiving growing recognition for his pioneering violin website, ViolinMP3.com, through which, in just a few months, he has already distributed several thousand recordings and downloads to members of the public in over fifty countries.

Simon, the first of three brothers from a family of musicians, received his first violin at age four, and for several years played in local concerts, festivals, and orchestras. During high school, he joined Britain's National Youth Orchestra, and started attending the Royal College of Music's Junior department, where he studied with Marius Bedeschi, before receiving a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music (RAM). As well as his continuing studies with Hu Kun, Simon has studied in extended masterclasses with Ruggiero Ricci at Dartington, Lorand Fenyves at IMS Prussia Cove, Lewis Kaplan at Bowdoin Festival, Maine, and Norbert Brainin, Sylvia Rosenberg and Michael Dussek at RAM.

Simon performs in recital with pianists including Yurie Miura, with whom he has formed an award-winning duo partnership, and Geoffrey Duce. Appearances have included the Edinburgh Fringe, and the Cheltenham International Music Festival. Simon was first prizewinner of several competitions (Kensington 1998, Guildford Jellinek awards 1999, Croydon 2000, Sevenoaks Young Musician 2001, Ealing 2002, Eastbourne 2003), and has worked with orchestras including the Lydian, Lambeth orchestras, Guildford and Ealing Symphonies, and Kensington Philharmonic, amongst others.

Chamber Music is a significant part of Simon's musical activity; as co-leader of the Artea Quartet he performed throughout the UK in recital, debuting at the Purcell Room in London’s South Bank Centre in May 2003, in a very well-received quartet/octet concert with the Pavăo Quartet as part of the Fresh Young Musicians Platform Series. In Autumn 2002, the quartet joined the Henri Oguike Dance Company on tour to 13 UK and 2 German cities, in 'Front Line', a performance of Shostakovich Quartet No.9 choreographed for performance with contemporary dancers. The Artea Quartet receives frequent coaching from members of leading ensembles such as the Aeolian, Amadeus, Alberni, Belcea (Wigmore Hall masterclasses), Skampa and Vanbrugh quartets.

Simon has collaborated with chamber ensembles including Ensemble Lumičre, has appeared on BBC radio/television entertainment programmes, and in 2001 was leader/soloist in chamber orchestra Concerto Grosso performances at the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall in London. He plays frequently with the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra.

Simon has received awards and scholarships from several organizations including, most recently, the Martin Musical fund, and Jerwood foundation (Prussia Cove). He was awarded the Sir John Barbirolli and Foundation awards by the RAM, and received the DipABRSM in 2001.

Simon is resident in London, England, and plays an undated English-French violin on loan from the Royal Academy of Music.