South Bend Symphony Orchestra
West Michigan Symphony
An active percussionist and timpanist based in Chicago, Simón is currently the Principal Timpanist of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the West Michigan Symphony and the Principal Percussionist of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Simón also performs frequently with major symphony orchestras around the country, with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Other groups Simón has performed with recently, include the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Madison Symphony Orchestra, The Bach Week Chamber Festival Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Orchestra among others. Previously Simón also served as the Principal Percussionist of the Battle Creek Symphony (2014 - 2016) and Assistant Principal Percussionist of the Florida Grand Opera (2010 - 2011). Before relocating to Chicago he also performed with the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Boca Raton Sinfonia, and Palm Beach Symphony.
A multifaceted player and new music enthusiast, in the 2017/2018 Season, Simón had his solo debut with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra performing James McMillan’s percussion concerto, Veni Veni Emmanuel and co-commissioned and premiered a piece for horn and vibraphone by Chicago based Composer, Roger Zare.
Born in Medellin, Colombia, Simón started his musical studies at an early age at the Instituto Musical Diego Echavarria. He then received both his Bachelor’s degree (with honors Magna Cum Laude) and Master’s degree from the University of Miami and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Percussion Performance from DePaul University. He attended the Aspen Music Festival and School for 5 summers, was recipient of the Charlie Owen Fellowship in 2011 and the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Timpani Fellowship in 2012. He was the timpanist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago 2014 -2016. While in the Civic Orchestra, he also worked as a Civic Fellow under the guidance of Yo Yo Ma.
Also a passionate educator, Simón is currently in the faculty of the Percussion Scholarship Program of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Sistema Ravinia Program at Catalyst Circle Rock and during the summers works as an Artist Teacher at the New England Music Camp. He has also served as coach of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony Orchestra and The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Simón’s main teachers include David Herbert, Marc Damoulakis, Eric Millstein, Matthew Strauss, Vadim Karpinos, Svet Stoyanov, Ney Rosauro and Ted Atkatz.