Simon Kelly

Simon Kelly is a London-based flautist and woodwind doubler. As a classical performer, he was recipient of Highly Commended honours in the Jonathan Myall Piccolo Prize as well as a concerto award with Manchester University Music Society. He performs classical recitals on Fred Olsen and P&O cruise lines and recently performed at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, for their inaugural concert series. As an orchestral musician, he has worked with conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Ryan Wrigglesworth, Alice Farnham and Martin Lowe. In theatre, Simon’s most recent engagements include Urinetown (RADA), The Witches of Eastwick (Epsom Playhouse) and Merrily We Roll Along (Royal Academy of Music). Having performed in pit bands for various agents showcases, cabarets and reviews, he is versatile across many musical theatre genres. Simon has a keen interest in composing and performing contemporary and electroacoustic music and introduces it to his own recital programmes. He most recently performed as a soloist 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, studying flute under Gavin Osborn. He later pursued a masters degree in Flute Performance at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutorage of Karen Jones and Laura Jellicoe, whilst studying piccolo and saxophone with Patricia Morris and Huw Wiggin respectively.