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Simon Wills
Simon Wills was originally a lutenist but moved to the trombone after a hand injury. After university, he became 1st trombone in the opera house at Palermo. He was second trombone and bass trumpeter in the London Symphony Orchestra and later became principal trombone of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, a post he held until 1997. He now works as a session player and with all the London Orchestras, the Royal Opera House and ensembles around the world. He has a keen interest in early music and plays with the Freiburger Barockorchester, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestra of the 18th Century and Gabrieli Consort. He also is first trombone of the Balthasar Neumann Ensemble in Freiburg, with whom he has appeared as soloist.
His music for the concert platform includes string quartets orchestral music and one or two pieces. His first concerto for trombone was premiered by Christian Lindberg in 1994 and has since received regualr performances, particularly in America. He is also a busy commercial composer, with recent TV scores including The Rescuers" "The Biz" and "By Heart". He composed a 70-minute score for the film One Big Adventure. which will be shown by the BBC later this year.
Simon Wills is professor of trombone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.