A Life Devoted to Music
With Mark Simons
A native New Englander, classical guitarist and co-director of the groundbreaking San Francisco Guitar Quartet, Mark Simons has made the Bay Area his home since 1998. After early childhood studies on piano, organ and trumpet, he devoted himself to the guitar and has never looked back!
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Practice, Practice, Practice... Mark Simons is one of very few musician scholars selected for the rigorous "Combined Double Degree Program," a unique joint program of the New England Conservatory of Music and Tufts University where he simultaneously completed BA and BM degrees. Other activities in Boston included work as a soloist and in duet with current San Francisco Symphony member Catherine Payne. Mark spent two years in Europe, winning a Fulbright Scholarship to the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart. Mark's impressive formal education also includes a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California where he served as Assistant Lecturer in Music and finally a full scholarship to Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory where, in addition to classical guitar, he studied contemporary improvisation with Gary Thomas, a former member of the legendary Miles Davis band.
Diversity Training... Building on a solid classical foundation, Mark Simons has long delved into myriad styles and genres that capture his and his student's native curiosity; jazz guitar with the late great Ted Greene, poetic musical explorations with Boston guitar guru Mick Goodrick, "third stream" world music studies with Guggenheim genius Ran Blake and microtonal pioneer Joseph Maneri, work with Argentinean jazz/rock fusion artist Pino Marronne, and flamenco guitar with the great Miguel Rodriguez all helped super charge Mark's eclectically open-minded approach.
Listen... Known for his brilliant performances of engaging music, Mark Simons has released four highly praised recordings with the San Francisco Guitar Quartet as well as a new solo release, "Blue in Green" that showcases his wide ranging abilities. The SFGQ's "Compadres" was chosen as a "Top CD" by the editors of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
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