The Department of Music recently appointed a new Teaching Fellow in Composition for 2019-20, Dr John De Simone who joins from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Dr De Simone studied at Cardiff University and the Guildhall before studying in The Hague. He completed his studies for a PhD at St Andrew's University.
Dr De Simone works mostly with his group Ensemble Thing (2004-) and with them puts on concerts that offer perspective and engagement in increasingly turbulent times. His music has also been performed by groups such as BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Red Note Ensemble, Orkest De Ereprijs, Percussion Group The Hague, Mondriaan Kwartet, Icebreaker, I Solisti di Vento and Ensemble Klang; featured in festivals including BBC Tectonics, FUSELeeds, Sound festival, Gaudeamus, Spitalfields, Verona Resuona, November Music and been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Radio Scotland, and Dutch, Polish, Italian and Estonian national radio. In 2016 he became Sound Festival’s inaugural composer in residence. Dr De Simone is the department’s second new appointment, with Dr Jonathan Hicks a recent appointment as Lecturer in Music, replacing Prof David Smith.