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The English organist and harpsichordist, Iain Hamilton Simcock, was organ scholar at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle (1983-1984) and Christ Church, Oxford (1984-1987), before being appointed Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey (April 1987-April 1988) and, for seven years, Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral (April 1988-August 1994). He was the first British prize-winner in the Chartres International Organ Competition, as well as prize-winner in competitions in St. Omer and Odense in Denmark. He studied with David Sanger in London and Jean Langlais in Paris.
Iain Simcock recorded several CD's for Hyperion Records with the choir of Westminster Cathedral as well as several solo organ recordings, including two Symphonies by Louis Vierne and notably the world première recording of Christus – A Passion Symphony for Organ by Francis Pott. During this period, recital tours took him all over Europe as well as to Australia. He also appeared regularly on BBC radio and television and played in two BBC Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. He gave many duo concerts during this time with Jonathan Freeman-Attwood (trumpet), now Principal of the Royal Academy of Music.
Since living in France, Iain Simcock has been Professor of choral singing at the Conservatoire National in Angers (September 1994-July 2001) and organist at the Abbey of Saint Pierre in Solesmes, whilst continuing his solo freelance career. He performed the complete organ works of J.S. Bach in Angers in 1996 recording a solo CD of highlights from the performances. He also performed all J.S. Bach's major harpsichord works including the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) on the famous Taskin harpsichord in the Russell collection at the Edinburgh Festival.
In 2000 Iain Simcock became organist and Director of Music and from 2001 to 2014 was Musical Director of the Maîtrise de l'Académie Vocale de Paris, which he has built into the most ambitious choral project in France. He performed weekly concerts with the choir as well as concerts in many major festivals. The Maîtrise travels increasingly, giving concerts of a vast repertoire of great choral music from Manchicourt to MacMillan. He was instigator of two major radio France programmes featuring the monks of Solesmes and the Académie Vocale, focusing on the great Solesmes tradition of the restoration of Gregorian chant. He also worked with the opera houses in Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux, preparing young singers for roles in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Turn of the Screw, Debussy Pelléas et Mélisande, Berlioz' Damnation of Faust, W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and as assistant to Jane Glover and harpsichordist for George Frideric Handel's Jephtha.
Iain Simcock continues to perform regularly as both organist and harpsichordist, recently returning from playing in the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman, which has the largest organ in the Middle-East. He continues his connection with the Abbey of Solesmes and also with the Benedictines of S. Madeleine at Le Barroux, having been the advisor for the new organ currently under construction for the Abbey church. |
