Simon HEWETT
conductor

Simon Hewett studied clarinet and conducting at the The University of Queensland, and after winning a DAAD German Government Scholarship, pursued further studies at the Franz Liszt Hochschule für Musik in Weimar.

He first conducted ELISION Ensemble in the world premiere of Richard BARRETT's Opening of the Mouth at the The Festival of Perth in 1997, and has since performed with the ensemble at most of the major Australian arts festivals, and toured with them to Korea (ISCM World Music Days 1997), and Europe (Festival Ars Musica, Ars Nova, Radio Bremen, 1998). His recording with ELISION of Opening of the Mouth, released by ABC Classics, was named `Pick of the Month´ by the BBC Music Magazine in 2000.

Simon conducted the premiere performance of Liza LIM's Yuè Lìng Jié at the Adelaide Festival in 2000. Subsequent seasons include performances at the Melbourne Festival (2001), the Hebbel Theater, Berlin, the Zürich International Festival and the Saitama Arts Theatre, Tokyo (2002).

During his studies in Germany, Simon appeared with the Jena Philharmonic and the Pecs Symphony Orchestra, while in Australia he has conducted the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In 2003 he will take up a position as Assistant Conductor at Opera Australia.

May 2002