Simon Wills

Simon Wills is a Professor of Music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama since 1986, specializing in trombone performance, composition, and historical orchestral practices. He concurrently serves as a visiting professor at institutions including the Conservatoire Superieure in Paris and the University of North Texas. His roles include conductor of his own works and founder of the Ubu ensemble dedicated to 20th-century repertoire.

Education: PhD in Music (The Gig Economy, 2023) from City, University of London. Supervised by Trevor Herbert, his thesis explored the London orchestral profession's evolution from Georgian to Victorian eras.

Research Interests: Simon's work bridges performance and academia, focusing on brass instrument studies, non-Western brass techniques (Uzbek karnay, Indian street bands), and music's sociological role as a tool for social mobility. He actively investigates breathing techniques from Indian/Persian traditions and their application to brass playing.

Notable Compositions: His works span orchestral overtures (Empress of Blandings), operas (The Stolen Smells), ballets (Anita Berber), and experimental theatre pieces (1816). Recent compositions include Nora Barnacle Assumes Command (2024) and One is Down (2024).

Awards: Winner of the Junge Ohren prize for children's music theatre (2013) for Du Bist Da..., Du Bist Fort. His Dante symphony Malebolge was performed internationally, and The Island received BBC broadcasts.

Teaching & Leadership: Teaches trombone and conducts at Guildhall, while leading international workshops in Cuba, Kazakhstan, and Germany. His academic writings include contributions to the Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments and its Encyclopaedia.