Simeon Broom

Supported by Deryk & Jan McNamara

Simeon grew up in Auckland and began the violin at the age of four.

He completed Performance Violin studies at Auckland University with Mary O’Brien, during which he won the inaugural University Concerto Competition.

Simeon received a DAAD (German Academic Exchange) Scholarship and moved to Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Düsseldorf with Professor Ida Bieler. During his time there, he performed with the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne and participated in performances with Live Music Now, a charity founded by Yehudi Menuhin.

In 2004, Simeon was a finalist in the New Zealand Young Musicians Competition, and he performed as a soloist with orchestras in New Zealand and Germany.

In 2008, Simeon completed his Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with David Takeno and Jack Glickman. He was a finalist in the London Beares Solo Bach Competition and winner of the Sonata Competition at the North London Music Festival.

He has played in orchestras such as the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), the English National Opera, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic, and the Sydney Symphony before joining the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

In 2021 and 2022, Simeon performed and recorded as a soloist with the NZSO in Vivaldi and Piazzolla's 'Seasons.'

Simeon is a passionate chamber musician and has toured with Chamber Music New Zealand. In 2016, he co-founded the Mt Eden Chamber Music Festival and has served as Artistic Director since its inception. The festival has become a beloved fixture on the local arts calendar.