Simon Turner

Simon Turner has been based in Manchester since the age of sixteen, studying at Chetham's School of Music and the RNCM, and then becoming a member of the BBC Phil. While studying at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, he formed Trio Phoenix, a flute/cello/piano trio who championed 20th and 21st century composers in concert for twelve years, including several performances for the Late Music Festival. Regular visits with Trio Phoenix to Canada eventually led him to leave his job in the BBC and enrol in the Master of Music programme at McGill University, Montreal. After gaining his degree, he returned to England, where he has worked as guest principal with many orchestras, including Opera North, BBC Scottish and the Northern Sinfonia. In December 2003 he joined the Hallé as second cello, and since then has combined orchestral life with chamber music and solo performances around the northwest.