Simon Standage

As a specialist in historical violin techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries, Simon Standage has performed with many of the world’s leading period instrument orchestras. After a music degree from Cambridge University in 1963, a Harkness Fellowship to study with Ivan Galamian in New York City, and, after a 1972 Wigmore Hall debut, he became a founding member of Trevor Pinnock’s ensemble the English Concert. Standage served as first (solo) violinist of this ensemble from 1973 to 1991; his recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with the English Concert received a Grammy nomination. Standage also played extensively with the English Chamber Orchestra from 1974 to 1978, led the City of London Sinfonia from 1980 to 1989, and served as associate director of the Academy of Ancient Music from 1991 to 1995. Appointed professor of Baroque violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1983, he has taught at the Dresden Akademie für Alte Musik since 1993. In addition to these longtime associations, Standage has founded two ensembles devoted to historically aware string performance. The Salomon Quartet, which he founded in 1981, specializes in applying period instruments and approaches to the eighteenth century quartet and quintet repertory. In 1990, Standage and Richard Hickox founded the group Collegium Musicum 90. Under contract with Chandos Records, Collegium Musicum 90 produced more than 40 recordings in its first decade, from large-scale dramatic works to acclaimed trio sonata recordings.