Simon Kelly

Simon Kelly is a London-based flautist with a specialty in doubling on a variety of woodwind instruments. His most recent engagements include Merrily We Roll Along (Royal Academy) and Legally Blonde (UMMTS), the latter of which he served as Assistant Musical Director. Having performed in pit bands for various agents showcases, cabarets and reviews, he is versatile across many musical theatre genres. Beginning his career as a classical flautist, Simon received Highly Commended honours in the Jonathan Myall Piccolo Prize as well as a concerto award with Manchester University Music Society. He has performed at the Aldeburgh Festival, Barbican and Royal Albert Hall and worked with conductors such as Ludovic Morlot, Alice Farnham and Frank Ollu. As well as a classical performer, Simon has a keen interest in composing and performing contemporary and electroacoustic music and introduces it to his own recital programmes. He most recently doubled on piccolo, flute, alto and bass flute in a performance of Helena Tulve’s ‘Abysses’ with the Manson ensemble, and his own compositions were overseen by Professor David Berezan and Ricardo Climent at Manchester’s NOVARS electroacoustic research centre. Simon graduated with a first class degree in Music from The University of Manchester and studied flute under Gavin Osborn. He is now finishing a masters degree in flute performance at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutorage of Karen Jones, Laura Jellicoe and Patricia Morris and studies saxophone with Huw Wiggin. Outside of music Simon is a keen rugby supporter (though is reluctant to return to the field) and enjoys long coastal walks.