Grisey, Berg, Schnittke Shostakovich, Mahler, Berio, Ligeti, Stockhausen, Birtwhistle, Andriessen, Sun Ra Arkestra, Throbbing Gristle, The Residents, Slayer, Metallica, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Richard Ayres, Martijn Padding, Gilius van Bergeijk, John Williams, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, Radiohead, The Streets, Muse, TV music generally
I am a composer based in Glasgow. I have studied composition at various places (Cardiff Uni - BMus, Guildhall School of Music and Drama - MMus, Royal Conservatory The Hague - MA 2nd Phase with Distinction) and with various composition teachers (Anthony Powers, Robert Saxton, Martijn Padding, Gilius Van Bergeijk.) I am currently nearing the end of a PhD programme at the RSAMD where my supervisor is Gordon McPherson.
I have been lucky enough to have recieved regular commissions and a have written for numerous ensembles including;Percussion Group The Hague, Aurelia Sax Quartet, The Modriaan Quartet, Paragon Ensemble, Orkest De Ereprijs,Psappha, Symposia, Ensemble Soil, m.use, Ensemble Thing, Ensemble Klang, Silesian String Quartet, New Juilliard ensemble, Philarmionia, Royal Conservatory Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, RSAMD Symphony Orchestra. I have also had my music performed at festivals such as Plug, FUSELeeds 04, Spitalfields Festival, Rumori Festival, and the Gaudeamus New Music Festival.
In 2000 I founded Ensemble Muse, a dutch young new music group that ran for three years a performed twenty five premieres in that time, as well as working with "big name" composers Louis Andriessen, Steve Reich, Frederick Rzewski and Steve Martland.In 2004 I founded Thing, a new music band here in glasgow which carries on performing to this day. Also in 2004 I was a founder of the groundbreaking KEN new music festival.
I also work as a teacher and animateur; I lecture at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and lead group music making workshops at Gartnavel Royal Hospital for the innovative music for mental health sufferers service, Polyphony. In 2007 I led the "Musical Bridges" project for unaccompanied adolescent asylum seekers at Glasgow City Halls.
This years work includes a post as associate composer for Symposia, for whom I have been comissioned to work on a 45 minute multimedia piece to be performed in December 08 and also a piece for Sax-Ecosse with the poet Aidan McEoin which will tour the highlands in August.
"...Stunningly powerful music..." Michael Tumelty - The Herald
"...Intense and Disturbing..." - Downtown Music Gallery
hi john, had a good listen sounds great! great arrangements, agressive! thanks for dropping in, come by again in the future i change the tunes (& styles) often. you can also check out my scoring/commercial work @ www. soundmusic. ca
in the meantime please check out and vote for my orchestral remix of "Nude" from the new Radiohead record! peace - steve :)
BONJOUR JOHN DE SIMONE, MERCI DE M'INCLURE DANS VOTRE CERCLE D'AMIS, J'EN SUIS RAVI !!!! TRES BELLE DECOUVERTE QUE JE FAIS LA, JE TROUVE VOTRE UNIVERS MUSICAL TRES INTERESSANT, TRES BELLES COMPOSITIONS. MERCI ENCORE POUR L'ADD ET A TRES BIENTOT. AMICALEMENT MOLECULE
