Simon Leach studied Organ with Dr Gordon Stewart and Piano with David Lloyd at the Royal Northern College of Music, winning the Alice Shawcross Organ Award, the Alice Shawcross Performance Award, and 1st prize in the Prix Scarbo Keyboard Competition. As an outstanding student, he was invited to perform in the prestigious Principal’s Concert.

Since his graduation in 1992, Simon has enjoyed a richly varied career as a keyboardist, performing on piano, organ and harpsichord with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, The Hallé, Manchester Camerata, Northern Sinfonia, London Festival Orchestra, and the Northern Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, he has held Organist posts at the Church of the Holy Name, Manchester and St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh. Simon is currently the Organist at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, which is the Kirk of Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle. Additionally, he is Musical Director at Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders and combines these roles with an array of work as a freelance performer and a busy teaching schedule.

Simon is active as a solo Organist and has performed in many of the cathedrals and concert halls in Great Britain, as well as travelling to New York to perform at prestigious venues including St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Church of St Thomas Fifth Avenue. In February 2017, he was invited to represent Great Britain in the International Recital Series at Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris, performing to an audience of 2000. He also regularly performs in the UK with Violinist Benedict Holland. He has given several world premieres of compositions by Helen Leach, Naji Hakim, and Paul Mealor. His performances of Helen Leach’s music are frequently broadcast on radio channels throughout the world.