Principal Cellist of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Founder and Director of the Prairie Cello Institute, Artistic Director of the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto’s Music in the Afternoon concert series, and co-director of Regina Summer Strings, Simon Fryer is an artist of the utmost versatility, at home with the demands of the music of our time and those of historical performance, with the cooperation of ensemble and in the solo spotlight.

 

Simon’s discography of over 30 recordings includes the solo CD: Music of a life so far... acclaimed as ‘a fascinating collection' by the Toronto Star. Of his second release, on Centaur Records, a CD of Victorian Cello Sonatas by Samuel Liddle, Algernon Ashton and Charles Stanford with pianist Leslie De’Ath, Wholenote magazine lauded ‘expansive playing … Fryer’s tone in the lower register is particularly lovely.’ As a member of the Juno-winning Penderecki String Quartet – one of the Canada’s most successful ensembles - Simon performed regularly across Canada and around the world. The PSQ released several discs during this time, including the complete cycle of Bartok's String Quartets, and worked closely with many of the world's most innovative contemporary creators from Christos Hatzis to DJ Spooky. Appearances as soloist in Canada with orchestras such as the Regina, Scarborough, Mississauga, and Okanagan Symphonies, and the Esprit Orchestra, as well as the Da Capo Chamber Choir and the Wellington Winds, have been complemented by performances as guest Principal with such as the saskatoon and Hamilton Philharmonics. Previously a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, internationally he has performed with the Orqestra Sinfonica de Tenerife and the UK’s Northern Sinfonia.

 

Currently on faculty at the University of Regina, Simon has held teaching positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Toronto, and the Glenn Gould School in Canada, as well as at the Casalmaggiore International Festival in Italy. Well-known for his master classes in cello and chamber music, Simon has been a guest of many institutions including the Vivaldi Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, Shanghai Conservatory, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Memorial University, the University of Western Ontario, Mount Royal College, Indiana University; the University of Southern California, Paris University 8, and the University of British Columbia.

 

Simon holds performance diplomas from the Royal Northern College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is active as a chamber musician, orchestral player and soloist in more than thirty countries on six continents. He performs on an instrument completed in 1998 by Masa Inokuchi and when not playing the cello, enjoys nothing more than tinkering with his elderly MG sportscar.

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