Simon Fox
was born and educated in York. He grew up in musical surroundings—his
grandfather was the composer Hans Gál—and started the 'cello at the age of
five. He was a pupil of Ioan Davies, and later of Marcio Carneiro (formerly a
pupil of André Navarra) at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, where
he graduated with distinction in 1998. During his school years (he went to
Bootham School in York) he won many prizes including the title 'Young Musician
of the Festival' at the Harrogate Festival, which was followed by an appearance
on Yorkshire Television.
Simon now lives in London, and combines his work on the cello with a career as freelance recording producer, working with such ensembles as the Vienna Sextet, the Moscow String Quartet and the London Mozart Players. This is his second appearance with the York Symphony Orchestra, following the performance in December 1996 of the Saint-Saëns cello concerto.
Simon's 'cello was made around 1790 by William Thompson.