Mark Simpson

• Mark Simpson is a leading talent among young British composer-instrumentalists
• Became the first-ever winner of both the BBC Young Musician of the Year and BBC Proms/Guardian Young Composer of the Year competitions in 2006
• Studied at Royal Northern College of Music, Oxford University and Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• As a clarinettist, made Wigmore Hall debut at 17 and has appeared as soloist with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Northern Sinfonia
• As a composer, has written commissioned works for London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia
• Leading interpreters include violinist Nicola Benedetti, cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and the composer himself on clarinet
• Appointed Composer in Association with BBC Philharmonic 2015-19
• Chamber opera Pleasure, with libretto by Melanie Challenger, toured in UK in 2016
• Works demonstrate gift for instrumentation and skilful handling of aural perspective within complex textures
• Recordings include a disc of chamber and ensemble works on the NMC label

Works by Mark Simpson include:
The Immortal (2015) Oratorio for voices and orchestra
Pleasure (2016) Chamber opera
Cello Concerto (2018)

Looking Ahead: new viola concerto, Hold Your heart in Your teeth, for Timothy Ridout premiered with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and Robin Ticciati at Philharmonie in Berlin (15 Dec); other highlights over the season include the UK premiere of the Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with soloist Jason Lewis (25 Sep) and Thomas Adès conducting Israfel at the Berlin Philharmonie with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester (26 Jun).

"Sure in its harmonic touch, bold in its orchestral colours, A mirror-fragment... has enough ideas for a piece three times its modest length..." — Daily Telegraph