Simon Crawford
About Simon Crawford
Simon Crawford-Phillips has built a unique career as a pianist, conductor and creative
programmer. Passionate about contemporary music Simon has given world premieres of music
by Thomas Adès, Britta Byström, Helen Grime, Steve Reich and Mark-Anthony Turnage
amongst others.
He has held positions as Chief Conductor of Västerås Sinfonietta (2016-2028) and Conductor
Fellow of the NDR Elbphilharmonie and in 2023 made a critically acclaimed debut with the
Stockholm Royal Opera conducting Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Other recent
debuts include the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Gävle
Symfoniorkester, Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
As pianist in the Kungsbacka Piano Trio, Nash Ensemble, Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble,
Moore/Crawford-Phillips Duo and Colin Currie Group he has performed worldwide and made
several recordings for BIS, Orchid, Hyperion and Deutsche Grammophon. Upcoming releases
include music by Daniel Börtz, Sebastian Fagerlund, Djuro Zivkovic and a piano duo album of
Schubert and Bach/Kurtag.
Regular collaborators include Malin Broman, Daniel Hope, Pekka Kuusisto, Anne Sofie von
Otter, Lawrence Power, Torleif Thedéen, the Elias String Quartet and Academy of St.Martin in
the Fields Chamber Ensemble. Many of these have performed with Simon in his role as artistic
director of the ‘Change Music Festival’ and co-director of the Wye Valley Chamber Music
Festival.
An avid teacher he has held positions at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of
Music and Drama and was recently awarded a Professorship at the Mälardalen University in
Västerås, Sweden. www.simoncrawford-phillips.com