Simon Lee
Singaporean multi-instrumentalist Simon Lee served as Principal Oboe of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra from 2017 to 2023. Upon returning to Singapore in 2023, he has performed with ensembles including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, Singapore Lyric Opera, Wayfarer Sinfonietta, Resound Collective, and Open Score Project. In July 2023, Simon presented a recital of works by Singaporean composers at the International Double Reed Society Conference in Thailand.
Simon graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore, where he studied under Ms. Rachel Walker. During his studies, he was selected for a student exchange at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne, where he worked with Jean-Louis Capezzali.
In 2011, Simon was the only Singaporean selected to perform with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra in Sydney. He also served as Principal Oboe of the Asian Youth Orchestra during its 25th anniversary tour. His orchestral collaborations further include the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, Chongqing Symphony Orchestra, Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
A sought-after oboe and woodwind clinician, Simon is regularly invited to give masterclasses in Singapore, Malaysia, and China. His students have gained admission to and performed with distinguished institutions and orchestras such as the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore National Youth Orchestra, Rondo Festival Orchestra (Malaysia), National Symphony Youth Orchestra (Taiwan), Australian Youth Orchestra, YMCG Symphony Orchestra (China), and the Asian Youth Orchestra. Several of his students have gone on to secure full-time positions in professional orchestras.
An experienced pit musician, Simon has performed in the Singapore seasons of Miss Saigon, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, and Beauty and the Beast at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre. He performs regularly with Symphony SONG (Korea) as Guest Principal, most recently appearing in Seoul for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. He is also the founder of YST Camerata, leading its debut performances of Dvořák and Mozart serenades.
Simon has been a Buffet Crampon oboe artist since 2020.
