Simon Cole Bio
Bio
Simon Cole Clarinetist/Saxophonist/Composer
Simon Cole has won International auditions and played principal clarinet with the Rishon orchestra in Israel (where he was offered tenure) and the the Banff opera orchestra as well as Philharmonia west and the Kelowna Pops orchestra amongst others. He was accepted into Banff as an Artist in residence and into the Banff and Sarasota (florida) festivals.
He has performed chamber music and solo recitals with many of the countries finest musicians, including Jasper Wood, Shauna Rolston, Arnold Draper and George Zukerman.
Simon studied with Emilio Iacurto at McGill, an Italian clarinetist of the Bel canto school of playing and also in the master classes of many great clarinetists including Frank Cohen, Michele Zukovsky, Robert Marcellus and Allen Hacker and with Micheal Dumachel and Bob Crowley of the MSO.
His CD The Art of Melody, which was the first classical CD to ever come out of Prince George, has been distributed around the world and broadcast on the CBC.
He regularly appears as a soloist outside Prince George at chamber music festivals and for concert associations and on tour and most recently was a soloist at the International clarinet festival, he has performed most of the major concertos for clarinet with orchestra from Moxart to Nielsen.
His group Alban Classical has toured remote communities giving school concerts. They have performed in most communities in BC and The Yukon, from Hartley Bay on the coast to as far as Old Crow in the northern of the Yukon. Well over 10,000 children have enjoyed Alban classical school concerts. They also produce their own concert series.
Simon Cole is also a performed, recorded, commissioned,broadcasted, grant winning composer who reflects the natural beauty of the Canadian North in his music, one of which you can hear on the PGSO’s CD. In 2007 he won a major grant to compose the One Song Universus which was premiered in 2008 to standing ovations. The Irish symphony received the same response, other well received works include My Dog Overture, Kalinsky Duff (which was recorded on CD by the late great conductor Georg Tintner) and the Clarinet Rhapsody.
Simon’s students are very successful; they have won top prizes, concerto competitions and scored top marks in their exams and you will find his students working as musicians and teachers throughout Canada and the US.
Simon enjoys hiking with his dogs and Hapkido.. He is a certified Website designer/computer tech.
What the critics say about his playing:
appreciative standing ovation acknowledging Cole's interpretation (Mozart clarinet concerto)
Giles Citizen
[clarinetist Simon] Cole and [flutist Don] Bond brought to the audience a most amazing tribute to Fryderyk Chopin, composed by Canadian Ronald Royer
Free Press
The highlight of the evening was Aaron Copland's clarinet concerto played by guest clarinetists Simon Cole...Simon Cole a talented local musician is at least of national standing and possibly world class. As such he produced some beautiful sounds from the clarinet that really showed off both his and the instruments capabilities M.Nash PG This Week
the clarinet concerto by Aaron Copland and it was performed spectacularly by Simon Cole...Cole demonstrated his excellent musicianship in the very demanding cadenza...this was the highlight of the evening
A.Murray Prince George Citizen
Simon Cole played Weber concerto#2 a piece of amazing technical demand, it was played with incredible precision at blinding speed and was a personal highlight
D. Anderson Fort Nelson Daily News
Simon Coles playing of the Nielsen Concerto was virtuosity of the highest order with impeccable tone and technique Cole remained in complete command of the work
Clive Keen Prince George Citizen
Cole performed a stunning Rondo on the saxophone ( Hayden Gypsy Rondo)
McBride paper
One of the finest moments for me in many a concert came when Simon Cole , Principal clarinet took a marvellous melody out from behind the curtain and filled it with mystery and led us into a wonderfully moving conclusion
Keen Citizen
Simon Cole got a standing ovation for Weber's concerto #1...the audience response when the piece ended was instantaneous
Bruce Citizen
"Kelowna’s well-loved pianist, Arnold Draper, will perform with two of Canada’s shining stars, Simon Cole
Any clarinetist attempting the Prokofiev Sonata op.94 must be either brave or good, Simon Cole demonstrated he is both" ,"The Alban trio played warmly" "Cole and Wood were admirable..and turned in a rousing performance to great acclaim
Charles Velte Kelowna Courier
and Jasper Wood"
What Great players say about his playing:
A fantastic clarinetists, most of the worlds great Orchestras do not have such a player
W. Kushner Berlin philharmonic
Simon Cole has every ability and quality a musician could want
Noam Sheriff Conductor, Israel
What the critics say about his compositions:
Kalinsky Duff proved to be a beautiful piece of music
Fort Nelson daily News
An impressed audience gave the (Irish) symphony a standing ovation.
Bruce Citizen
(Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra)
the audience was taken on roller coaster ride of swiftly changing moods and tempos that showcased Cole's breathtaking technique on clarinet. They were rewarded with a stunningly beautiful coda with the clarinet playing a gorgeous melody of long notes in the highest range.
Bruce Citizen.
What the worlds top players say about his compositions:
I particularly enjoyed your rhapsody for clarinet, keep on composing!"
Pamela Weston clarinetist/recording artists and Author of "Clarinet virtuosos
I listened to your rhapsody for clarinet BRAVO!!!"
Richard Stoltzman clarinetist/recording artist
Simon Cole /Clarinet Saxophone Flute Composer
Has played Principal clarinet with numerous orchestras including winning international auditions for Rishon Orchestra Israel, Banff Opera orchestra.
- Hear his Solo Clarinet CD
- Composer: performed*recorded*broad-casted*commissioned*grant winner
- Hear his composition Kalinsky Duff as recorded by the late great conductor Georg Tintner
- Hear his composition One Song Universus