Simon Jones

Simon Jones studied at Bristol, Oxford and York universities, gaining his PhD in String Performance Practice in 2003. He was appointed as concertmaster of the European Baroque Orchestra and spent the early part of his career touring and recording with most of the UK’s leading period instrument groups. He performed with, amongst others, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington and Christopher Hogwood, and at one point he held three principal seats simultaneously. In 1997 he was appointed concertmaster of The King’s Consort, with whom he enjoyed a very busy touring and recording schedule. In 2004 Simon moved to Wales to take up the position of Head of Historical Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He combined this role with performance and recording, including leading award-winning UK ensembles such as The Dunedin Consort, The Sixteen and Arcangelo.

In 2012 Simon took on the role of Head of String Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, developing the course to offer a unique blend of stylistic and contextual experience, class-leading performance opportunities and high levels of mentoring and contact with internationally-renowned teachers. Simon now combines this role with external consultancies, examining roles at other institutions, and diploma examining for the ABRSM. He is a trustee and council member of the European String Teachers’ Association and acted as a consultant for recordings for the ABRSM’s last violin syllabus. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and in 2016 was proud to receive a coveted National Teaching Fellowship.

Simon is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and in 2016 was proud to receive a coveted National Teaching Fellowship, making him the only UK Head of Strings to be honoured in this way.