Janet Simpson

Janet Simpson studied with Cyril Smith at the Royal College of Music. Whilst there she won several prizes for accompaniment and chamber music including a Royal Overseas League award. Shortly after leaving college she was appointed principal keyboard player in the Halle Orchestra, a position she held for over 30 years. During that time she toured extensively and was involved in numerous recordings and broadcasts. She also appeared many times as a soloist with the orchestra.

Janet continues to perform regularly as a chamber music player and as an accompanist. She is a member of the Syrinx Trio.

Now living in London, she has become increasingly involved in contemporary music and has frequently performed in the Music of our Time series with players from the Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as playing in many concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, playing works by composers as diverse as Pierre Boulez and Louie Andriessen.

Janet was delighted to accompany her husband Richard in the first performance of Peter Hope’s Oboe Sonata in a concert to celebrate the life of Lady Barbirolli in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall in 2009.