Simon Emes

Born in London, Simon Emes began his musical education as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral Choir School. He took up the oboe at the age of 13 and later studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Anthony Camden, David Theodore, and Maurice Bourgue, where he was awarded the Gold Medal in 1982.

He joined the Royal Danish Orchestra as Solo Oboe, and after four years in Copenhagen was appointed by Mariss Jansons as Co-Principal Oboe of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. During his time in Oslo, he made numerous recordings for EMI, Chandos, and Naxos, including the first four albums with the pop group Secret Garden.

In 1998, Simon left Norway to become Principal Oboe of the newly formed Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur. As an invited Guest Principal, he has toured and recorded with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, WDR Cologne, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Since leaving Malaysia in 2022, he has worked as Solo Oboe with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Musikkollegium Winterthur, and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

Outside of music, his interests include classic Minis, corgis, food, and travel.