Dr Simon Jones

• PhD, University of York
• Diploma in Baroque Musicology, University of Oxford
• BA (Hons) in Muisc, University of Bristol

Simon Jones was the first leader of the European Union Baroque Orchestra and went on to lead several of the leading UK early music ensembles including The King’s Consort, The Dunedin Consort, Arcangelo, Florilegium and The Sixteen. His concert, recording and directing work has gone hand in hand with his academic work at York University and at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, where he is Head of Historical Performance and Head of String Performance.

He is a member of European String Teachers Association (ESTA) council and a regular external examiner and advisor for other universities and conservatoires including the Royal College of Music, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Simon is also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2016.

The particular focus of Simon’s interests is violin string technique of the Baroque period. His doctoral research focussed on the life, works and influence of the 17tht-century Italian violinist Nicola Matteis, who, after moving to London in the 1660s, attracted attention through his virtuosic concerts and beautifully engraved copperplate publications. 

Together, these created a strong and growing appetite in London for the Italian virtuoso style, helping to shape music tastes in the city and paving the way for Corelli and later virtuosi. Simon has published some previously unknown consort music by Matteis and has further publications of 17th-century consort music planned. He is currently looking at sources of late 17th-century and early 18th-century string music with a view to publication and performance.

Within RWCMD, Simon gives postgraduate and undergraduate lectures, as well as directing ensembles, and coaching string solo and chamber music.

He leads masterclasses in the College and beyond, taking string classes and leading the Historically-Informed Performance module.

Simon is keen to hear from prospective doctoral research students interested in 17th and 18th century performance practice; instrumental music of the baroque and classical periods; rhetoric and its influence on pre 19th century music; string performance practice of any period; and orchestral music pre-romantic.

• 2023 – Published edition of Matteis Ayres for the violin in four parts
• 2001 – The legacy of the 'stupendious' Nicola Matteis Early Music November 2001