Chief Conductor/Västerås Sinfonietta
Artistic Adviser/Västerås Sinfonietta
Artistic Director/Change Music Festival
Conductor Fellow/NDR Elbphilharmonie 20/22
Artistic Adviser/Västerås Sinfonietta
Artistic Director/Change Music Festival
Conductor Fellow/NDR Elbphilharmonie 20/22
“The conductor Simon Crawford-Phillips proved to be an enthralling figure both as a musician and a stage persona… energetic, fast, constantly and thrillingly on the front foot.” (Västmanlands Tidning).
Simon is a multi-festival director, renowned pianist, creative programmer with a passion for championing contemporary repertoire, and a chamber musician who regularly collaborates with artists such as Daniel Hope and Lawrence Power in repertoire from Haydn and Schumann to Adès, Byström, Dean and Reich. His own ensembles include The Kungsbacka Piano Trio, and Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble (resident artists at Stockholm Konzerthus).
Simon’s spicy and eclectic programming is reflected in an extraordinarily varied career as a conductor/director alongside his solo collaborations. In 2017 he was appointed Artistic Adviser and Chief Conductor of Västerås Sinfonietta, now extended until 2023. Simon has broadened the Sinfonietta’s reach and repertoire as well as launching the Sinfonietta’s own festival. The orchestra is embarked on a Beethoven Symphony cycle leading up to 2020 and cross-artform programmes have included Milhaud’s La Creation du Monde collaborating with jazz musician Magnus Lindgren and dancer Ida Inxi Holmlund to Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, performed from memory and choreographed with juggler Jay Gilligan. Of the Sinfonietta’s most recent album Sydsvenskan writes “an artistic bullseye by an ensemble that promotes contemporary music but also performs classical repertoire with a twist”. Recent conducting engagements have included the Swedish Radio Symphony, Aalborg Symphony, Polish Chamber, Nash Ensemble and English Chamber orchestras as well as assisting Daniel Harding, Alain Altinoglu and Stanislav Kochanovsky annually at the Verbier Festival.
2019/20 brings debuts with Zurich Chamber Orchestra for an extensive European tour, directing Sinfonia Varsovia in Warsaw’s Lutosławski Chain Festival, and in Australia with the Australian National Academy of Music and Lawrence Power. Västerås Sinfonietta plans include a return tour to the UK, debuting Wild Waves and Woods at Kings Place with Paul Watkins and Lawrence Power before touring on, and in 2021 a new commission from Hans Ek for Finnish jazz/classical pianist Iiro Rantala to be paired with Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos.
As a pianist The Guardian says Simon has “profound sensitivity and technical brilliance, achieving an expressive intensity that made for compelling listening.” He performs in premiere festivals and concert halls across Europe including Verbier, Schleswig-Holstein, Edinburgh, and at Wigmore Hall where in the new season he will appear as the regular pianist with Chamber Ensemble in Residence, the acclaimed Nash Ensemble, and in recital with Daniel Hope and Lawrence Power. Notable concerto debuts include the NHK Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alan Gilbert, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Ilan Volkov and more recently the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra directing from the keyboard.
Further highlights during 19/20 include multiple album releases: Simon appears on Daniel Hope’s next solo release in early 2020, Fin de Siecle - Enescu, Debussy, Ravel and Webern for Deutsche Grammophon. In September Simon releases Fanny and Felix for dB Productions, Felix Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto for Piano, Violin and Strings alongside Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn’s String Quartet recorded for the first time in an arrangement for string orchestra - both with Malin Broman and award-winning Swedish string orchestra, Musica Vitae. For BIS, The Kungsbacka Trio releases the first volume in its Complete Schumann Piano Trio Series, and the Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble releases Voices of Angels (Dean, Gubaidulina, Rachmaninov). Simon appears with the Nash Ensemble for Hyperion (Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann), and Västerås Sinfonietta’s next recording, Nightingale, features Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 plus Alban Berg and Clara Schumann with soloist Elin Rombo.
Regular collaborators include artists such as Colin Currie, Daniel Hope, Pekka Kuusisto, Anthony Marwood, Truls Mørk, Anne Sofie von Otter, Lawrence Power, Michael Schade, Roman Simović, Torleif Thedéen, and the Danish and Elias string quartets. Passionate about contemporary music Simon has recently given world premieres of music by Thomas Adès, Britta Byström, Steve Reich and Mark-Anthony Turnage as well as working alongside composers Sofia Gubaidulina, Simon Holt, Colin Matthews and Huw Watkins.
In 2014 Simon’s piano duo with Philip Moore, a long-standing partnership, premiered Steve Reich’s Quartet for two pianos and two vibraphones at London’s Southbank Centre, Carnegie Hall NY (listed as one of “The Ten Best Classical Performances of 2014″ by New York Magazine), Kölner Philharmonie and Cité de la Musique Paris.
In addition to radio and television broadcasts in Europe, Australia and Japan he has also recorded for the BIS, Channel Classics, Deux-Elles, Hyperion, Harmonia Mundi, LSO Live, Naxos, Nonesuch and Signum CD labels.
Simon is the Artistic Director of the Change Music Festival in Norra Halland, Västerås Music Festival and Co-Artistic Director of the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival. He has also presented concerts for Sweden’s classical music radio station P2. A renowned teacher, Simon was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2010 and currently teaches at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama. Recent guest teaching has included the Schymberg masterclasses in Sweden together with Anne Sofie von Otter and chamber music at Indiana University in Bloomington and the University of Colorado. Simon Crawford-Phillips is managed worldwide by Percius www.percius.co.uk.
Simon is a multi-festival director, renowned pianist, creative programmer with a passion for championing contemporary repertoire, and a chamber musician who regularly collaborates with artists such as Daniel Hope and Lawrence Power in repertoire from Haydn and Schumann to Adès, Byström, Dean and Reich. His own ensembles include The Kungsbacka Piano Trio, and Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble (resident artists at Stockholm Konzerthus).
Simon’s spicy and eclectic programming is reflected in an extraordinarily varied career as a conductor/director alongside his solo collaborations. In 2017 he was appointed Artistic Adviser and Chief Conductor of Västerås Sinfonietta, now extended until 2023. Simon has broadened the Sinfonietta’s reach and repertoire as well as launching the Sinfonietta’s own festival. The orchestra is embarked on a Beethoven Symphony cycle leading up to 2020 and cross-artform programmes have included Milhaud’s La Creation du Monde collaborating with jazz musician Magnus Lindgren and dancer Ida Inxi Holmlund to Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, performed from memory and choreographed with juggler Jay Gilligan. Of the Sinfonietta’s most recent album Sydsvenskan writes “an artistic bullseye by an ensemble that promotes contemporary music but also performs classical repertoire with a twist”. Recent conducting engagements have included the Swedish Radio Symphony, Aalborg Symphony, Polish Chamber, Nash Ensemble and English Chamber orchestras as well as assisting Daniel Harding, Alain Altinoglu and Stanislav Kochanovsky annually at the Verbier Festival.
2019/20 brings debuts with Zurich Chamber Orchestra for an extensive European tour, directing Sinfonia Varsovia in Warsaw’s Lutosławski Chain Festival, and in Australia with the Australian National Academy of Music and Lawrence Power. Västerås Sinfonietta plans include a return tour to the UK, debuting Wild Waves and Woods at Kings Place with Paul Watkins and Lawrence Power before touring on, and in 2021 a new commission from Hans Ek for Finnish jazz/classical pianist Iiro Rantala to be paired with Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos.
As a pianist The Guardian says Simon has “profound sensitivity and technical brilliance, achieving an expressive intensity that made for compelling listening.” He performs in premiere festivals and concert halls across Europe including Verbier, Schleswig-Holstein, Edinburgh, and at Wigmore Hall where in the new season he will appear as the regular pianist with Chamber Ensemble in Residence, the acclaimed Nash Ensemble, and in recital with Daniel Hope and Lawrence Power. Notable concerto debuts include the NHK Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alan Gilbert, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Ilan Volkov and more recently the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra directing from the keyboard.
Further highlights during 19/20 include multiple album releases: Simon appears on Daniel Hope’s next solo release in early 2020, Fin de Siecle - Enescu, Debussy, Ravel and Webern for Deutsche Grammophon. In September Simon releases Fanny and Felix for dB Productions, Felix Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto for Piano, Violin and Strings alongside Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn’s String Quartet recorded for the first time in an arrangement for string orchestra - both with Malin Broman and award-winning Swedish string orchestra, Musica Vitae. For BIS, The Kungsbacka Trio releases the first volume in its Complete Schumann Piano Trio Series, and the Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble releases Voices of Angels (Dean, Gubaidulina, Rachmaninov). Simon appears with the Nash Ensemble for Hyperion (Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann), and Västerås Sinfonietta’s next recording, Nightingale, features Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 plus Alban Berg and Clara Schumann with soloist Elin Rombo.
Regular collaborators include artists such as Colin Currie, Daniel Hope, Pekka Kuusisto, Anthony Marwood, Truls Mørk, Anne Sofie von Otter, Lawrence Power, Michael Schade, Roman Simović, Torleif Thedéen, and the Danish and Elias string quartets. Passionate about contemporary music Simon has recently given world premieres of music by Thomas Adès, Britta Byström, Steve Reich and Mark-Anthony Turnage as well as working alongside composers Sofia Gubaidulina, Simon Holt, Colin Matthews and Huw Watkins.
In 2014 Simon’s piano duo with Philip Moore, a long-standing partnership, premiered Steve Reich’s Quartet for two pianos and two vibraphones at London’s Southbank Centre, Carnegie Hall NY (listed as one of “The Ten Best Classical Performances of 2014″ by New York Magazine), Kölner Philharmonie and Cité de la Musique Paris.
In addition to radio and television broadcasts in Europe, Australia and Japan he has also recorded for the BIS, Channel Classics, Deux-Elles, Hyperion, Harmonia Mundi, LSO Live, Naxos, Nonesuch and Signum CD labels.
Simon is the Artistic Director of the Change Music Festival in Norra Halland, Västerås Music Festival and Co-Artistic Director of the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival. He has also presented concerts for Sweden’s classical music radio station P2. A renowned teacher, Simon was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2010 and currently teaches at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama. Recent guest teaching has included the Schymberg masterclasses in Sweden together with Anne Sofie von Otter and chamber music at Indiana University in Bloomington and the University of Colorado. Simon Crawford-Phillips is managed worldwide by Percius www.percius.co.uk.
Concerts
June 2023
12-16 Recording Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus
26-30 Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble - Båstad Kammarmusikfestival
August 2023
2 Chamber Music Hope/Bahari/La Marca/Thomas - Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Germany
3 Chamber Music Hope/Bahari/La Marca/Thomas - Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Germany
4 Chamber Music Hope/Bahari/La Marca/Thomas - Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Germany
17 Change Music Festival - Kungsbacka, Sweden
18 Change Music Festival - Tjolöholms Slott, Sweden
19 Change Music Festival - Varberg, Sweden
20 Change Music Festival - Tjolöholms Slott, Sweden
23 Västerås Sinfonietta (Abonnemangs konsert) - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
26 Chamber Recital Lawrence Power - Schloss Elmau, Germany
September 2023
4-7 Recording Schubert/Kurtag Piano Duo wth Philip Moore - Sweden
14 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta, Kodaly, Zinovyev (Double Concerto with Hugo Ticciati - Swedish Premiere), Mozart - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
28 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
30 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
October 2023
6 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Växjö, Sweden
7 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Tingsryd, Sweden
8 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Malmö, Sweden
10 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Kungsbacka, Sweden
11 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Halmstad, Sweden
13 Conducting GUSO (Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Brahms 1) - Gothenburg, Sweden
14-15 Recording Schubert Album - Tim Jones, Jo Knight - Marlborough, UK
November 2023
10 Conducting Dala Sinfonietta - Falun, Sweden
16 Piano Duo Recital, Philip Moore - Bath Mozart Festival, Bath, UK
18 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, Uk
23 Conducting Nordic Chamber Orchestra - Sundsvall, Sweden
24 Conducting Nordic Chamber Orchestra - Sweden
25 Conducting Nordic Chamber Orchestra - Härnösand, Sweden
27 Recital with Daniel Hope - Wigmore Hall, London, Uk
December 2023
1 Conducting Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Iiro Rantala (Piano) - Kokkola, Finland
9 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, Uk
10 Nash Ensemble Recording for Hyperion Records - London, Uk
13 Conducting Handels Messiah, Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
January 2024
13 Conducting Royal Stockholm Philharmonic - Stockholm, Sweden
18 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
20 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Stoclholm Konserthus, Sweden
25 Ravel Piano Concerto, Jönköping Sinfonietta - Jönköping, Sweden
February 2024
2 Conducting GUSO Chamber Orchestra - Gothenburg, Sweden
10 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, UK
11 Nash Ensemble Wigmore Hall, London, UK
12-18 (Co-Artistic Director) Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival - Monmouth, UK
21 Chamber Music Recital, Broman/Stotijn - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
22 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
24 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
March 2024
7 Conducting Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra
8 Conducting Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra
9 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, UK
10 Conducting Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra
23 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta, Jazz Fest with Magnus Lindgren - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
26 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, UK
April 2024
5 Play/Conduct Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Pekka Kuusisto Vln/Cond -Örebro, Sweden
6 Recital Daniel Hope - Schloss Elmau, Germany
7-14 Recital Tour with Daniel Hope - Asia
18 Conducting Uppsala Chamber Orchestra - Uppsala, Sweden
23 Recital with Lawrence Power - Maidenhead Music Society, Uk
25 Recital with Daniel Hope - Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
26 Recital with Daniel Hope - Saint Paul, Minnesota,USA
30 Recital with Daniel Hope - San Francisco, USA
May 2024
9 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta/Dala Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
10 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta/Dala Sinfonietta - Falun, Sweden
June 2024
1 Chamber Recital Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Hope - Zurich, Switzerland
2 Chausson Concerto/Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Hope - Zurich, Switzerland
12-16 Recording Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus
26-30 Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble - Båstad Kammarmusikfestival
August 2023
2 Chamber Music Hope/Bahari/La Marca/Thomas - Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Germany
3 Chamber Music Hope/Bahari/La Marca/Thomas - Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Germany
4 Chamber Music Hope/Bahari/La Marca/Thomas - Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Germany
17 Change Music Festival - Kungsbacka, Sweden
18 Change Music Festival - Tjolöholms Slott, Sweden
19 Change Music Festival - Varberg, Sweden
20 Change Music Festival - Tjolöholms Slott, Sweden
23 Västerås Sinfonietta (Abonnemangs konsert) - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
26 Chamber Recital Lawrence Power - Schloss Elmau, Germany
September 2023
4-7 Recording Schubert/Kurtag Piano Duo wth Philip Moore - Sweden
14 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta, Kodaly, Zinovyev (Double Concerto with Hugo Ticciati - Swedish Premiere), Mozart - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
28 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
30 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
October 2023
6 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Växjö, Sweden
7 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Tingsryd, Sweden
8 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Malmö, Sweden
10 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Kungsbacka, Sweden
11 Conducting Tippett/Wallen/Gerswhin/Bloch - Musica Vitae, Halmstad, Sweden
13 Conducting GUSO (Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Brahms 1) - Gothenburg, Sweden
14-15 Recording Schubert Album - Tim Jones, Jo Knight - Marlborough, UK
November 2023
10 Conducting Dala Sinfonietta - Falun, Sweden
16 Piano Duo Recital, Philip Moore - Bath Mozart Festival, Bath, UK
18 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, Uk
23 Conducting Nordic Chamber Orchestra - Sundsvall, Sweden
24 Conducting Nordic Chamber Orchestra - Sweden
25 Conducting Nordic Chamber Orchestra - Härnösand, Sweden
27 Recital with Daniel Hope - Wigmore Hall, London, Uk
December 2023
1 Conducting Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Iiro Rantala (Piano) - Kokkola, Finland
9 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, Uk
10 Nash Ensemble Recording for Hyperion Records - London, Uk
13 Conducting Handels Messiah, Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
January 2024
13 Conducting Royal Stockholm Philharmonic - Stockholm, Sweden
18 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
20 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Stoclholm Konserthus, Sweden
25 Ravel Piano Concerto, Jönköping Sinfonietta - Jönköping, Sweden
February 2024
2 Conducting GUSO Chamber Orchestra - Gothenburg, Sweden
10 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, UK
11 Nash Ensemble Wigmore Hall, London, UK
12-18 (Co-Artistic Director) Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival - Monmouth, UK
21 Chamber Music Recital, Broman/Stotijn - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
22 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
24 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
March 2024
7 Conducting Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra
8 Conducting Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra
9 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, UK
10 Conducting Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra
23 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta, Jazz Fest with Magnus Lindgren - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
26 Nash Ensemble - Wigmore Hall, London, UK
April 2024
5 Play/Conduct Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Pekka Kuusisto Vln/Cond -Örebro, Sweden
6 Recital Daniel Hope - Schloss Elmau, Germany
7-14 Recital Tour with Daniel Hope - Asia
18 Conducting Uppsala Chamber Orchestra - Uppsala, Sweden
23 Recital with Lawrence Power - Maidenhead Music Society, Uk
25 Recital with Daniel Hope - Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
26 Recital with Daniel Hope - Saint Paul, Minnesota,USA
30 Recital with Daniel Hope - San Francisco, USA
May 2024
9 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta/Dala Sinfonietta - Västerås Konserthus, Sweden
10 Conducting Västerås Sinfonietta/Dala Sinfonietta - Falun, Sweden
June 2024
1 Chamber Recital Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Hope - Zurich, Switzerland
2 Chausson Concerto/Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Hope - Zurich, Switzerland