Mark Simpson

• Mark Simpson is a leading talent among 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, has appeared as soloist at BBC Proms in concertos by Nielsen and Magnus Lindberg, and has performed as chamber recitalist at leading international venues and festivals
• As a composer, has written commissioned works for London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Bachchor Salzburg, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
• Leading interpreters include violinist Nicola Benedetti, violist Timothy Ridout, guitarist Sean Shibe, and the composer himself on clarinet
• Composer in Association with BBC Philharmonic 2015-19, Artist in Residence with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 2025/26
• Chamber opera Pleasure, with libretto by Melanie Challenger, toured in UK in 2016 and staged by Theater Erfurt in 2023
• Works demonstrate gift for instrumentation and skilful handling of aural perspective within complex textures
• Recordings include two discs of chamber works on the NMC label and wind ensemble music on Orchid Classics combining Mozart's Gran Partita with Simpson's companion piece Geysir

Works by Mark Simpson include:
The Immortal (2015) Oratorio for voices and orchestra
Violin Concerto (2020-21) for violin and orchestra
ZEBRA (2025) for electric guitar and orchestra

Looking Ahead: season-long residency with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra includes his oratorio The Immortal (26 March); Dutch premieres include Phôs at Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (21 Feb) and viola concerto Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth toured by Philzuid with soloist Timothy Ridout to Maastricht, Eindhoven and Utrecht (26 Feb – 1 Mar).

"Simpson’s multi-layered, swirling score evokes the philosophical turmoil of humanity in general as we cling to such concepts as love, soul and immortality…" — The Times on The Immortal