Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin is a Senior Lecturer in Music and Deputy Head of Undergraduate Programmes at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). He leads the Musicianship Department and teaches theory, performance electives, and ensemble coordination. His roles include Year 1 tutoring and panel moderation for recitals. Parkin holds an ARCM, GRNCM, MusB (Manchester), and a PhD in Composition.

His research focuses on polystylism and the technique of morphing musical styles, alongside a long-term project composing a piece for every day of the year. Notable works include arrangements for Manchester Camerata, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and Jess Gillam, featured on four Decca Classics CDs. His arrangements are also published by Faber Music.

Parkin’s compositional output includes chamber music, string quartets, and solo instrumental pieces (e.g., flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and bass). As a pianist, he performs duo recitals, including with his wife, Hannah Roberts, and engages in masterclasses globally. His teaching spans composition, improvisation, and aural training, with recent publications on musicianship pedagogy.

Professional activities include pianist recitals, commission-based composition, and supervision of a PhD on improvisation’s mentality. He contributes to the RNCM’s academic governance through EC committee roles and is a sought-after arranger for renowned artists and orchestras.