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Photo: Andrew Castles

Born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1977, Simon Reade is a conductor, composer, educator and trumpet player. Simon is passionate about the performance of new music and has given the world premiere of over 100 new works by Tasmanian composers, many of these with the Hobart Wind Symphony, which he has directed for over 25 years. Simon also directs both the Hedberg and Wind Ensembles for the University of Tasmania, conducts Tasmania's only A grade Brass Band, Glenorchy City Brass, as well as working freelance with professional and community organisations, including the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. He is a fully represented composer at the Australian Music Centre and in 2022 was awarded the APRA/AMCOS State Luminary Award for Tasmania, for his sustained contribution as a conductor and the promotion of Australian Music.

Simon is a sought-after and well-respected conductor. He has been Musical Director of Hobart City Band Inc. since 1997 and as conductor of Hobart Wind Symphony won the 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2017 National 'A' Grade Concert Band titles. He took up the position of conductor with the University of Tasmania's Orchestra and Wind Ensemble in 2020 and was instrumental in the formation of the Hedberg Ensemble in 2022. He is the music director of Glenorchy City Brass, has had a long association with Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, Hobart Chamber Orchestra and from 2016-2019 presented new music concerts with Michael Kieran Harvey under the title FORUM. Simon is very committed to the creation of new music and has particularly championed the music of over 25 Tasmanian composers, He has a special affinity with the work of Don Kay and has premiered dozens of Kay's works including; Symphony 3 (2011), The Bushranger's Lover (2014), Concerto for Piano and Small Orchestra (2017), Concerto for Trumpet, Winds and Percussion (as soloist/conductor, 2019), Symphony 4 and Conflagration (both 2021). In 2020-21 he worked with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for the Composing Women workshops and in 2023-25 he has conducted for the TSO's Live Sessions. In May 2024 he conducted Pianist Elyane Laussade with the Hobart Chamber Orchestra in an acclaimed performance of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. In November 2024 he conducted the Chorus and Brass of the TSO for the Vigil held for Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph.

2025 has been a successful year for Simon's conducting: Russian/Swiss Harpist Alexander Boldachev in a performance of Ginastera's Harp Concerto (January), internationally renown Euphonium soloist, Steven Mead (June), prepared the orchestra for the Verdi Requiem performance at the 20^th Anniversary Festival of Voices (July), Welsh Harpist Benjamin Creighton Griffiths in the Australian Premiere of Creighton-Griffiths Concerto for Jazz Harp and Orchestra (August) and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra with soloists for the Australian Composer School (October).

Simon is also a composer, having filled commissions from the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, the Festival of Voices (Tasmania), IHOS opera, the Hobart Chamber Orchestra, the Derwent Valley Band and the Tasmanian Composer's Festival, amongst others. His music has been performed by such eminent performers as; Michael Kieran Harvey, Jabra Latham, Diego Campagna, Maurizio Barbetti, Duo Porto-Frontini, Luca Ferrini & Joze Kotar, Benjamin Price, Thomas McKay, Vanessa Sharman and Dr Matthew van Emmerik. He has music for band published through Brolga Music Australia, as well as selected chamber and orchestral works with TSO Publishing.

He lives in Campania, just out of Hobart, with his wife Claire and sons Owen, Callum and Elliott.

Simon Reade — current to October 2025