Concertmaster of the cello section
People's Artist of the Russian Federation

Victor Simon belongs to the generation of Russian musicians, which is rightfully described as a golden galaxy of Russian performing art of the second half of the 20th century. That time gave the art the entire constellation of remarkable musicians — magnificent soloists who gave their mastery to the symphony orchestra. Victor Simon is an outstanding soloist and the fame and pride of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra.

Victor Simon was born in Moscow in 1930, he was trained in the Moscow Conservatory by prominent musicians R.E. Sapozhnikova, V.I.Yampolsky, S.M.Kozolupova. He is a laureate of prestigious international competitions: in Prague in 1950, in Berlin in 1951.

Over half a century of his work was devoted to the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. Back in 1952, when the orchestra had the name of the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra of All-Union Radio, the cellist started his work in this orchestra in the capacity of a deputy concertmaster of the cello group, since 1961 he has been the cello concertmaster.

This musician made over seventy solo recordings for the radio and also at the leading sound-recording studios. Among Simon's CDs are first night performances of cello concerts with orchestra by contemporary composers, music of various times and styles ranging from baroque to the modern times. They include concerts by I. Ghaidn, L.Boccerini, K. Sen-Sans, S.Barber, R.Shuman, N. Miaskovsky, B.Tchaikovsky, the antology “All cello compositions with orchestra by Petr Tchaikovsky”, Symphony poem “Don Kikhot” by R. Strauss and lots of other works.

Victor Simon is a prominent pedagogue, who made plenty of remarkable musicians. His disciples are soloists of major orchestras all over the world, as well as in Russia. They are famous soloists and members of ensembles. From 1980 Victor Simon was a teacher in the Russian Academy of Musical Arts named after Gnesiny, since1996 he has been with the Moscow Conservatory. In 1988 he became an assistant professor, and in 1993 — a professor. In 1982 Victor Simon was given the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and in 1988 — the title of the People's Artist of the Russian Federation. In 1999, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of creative cooperation between the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and its artistic director and chief conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev, Victor Simon, as one of the oldest musicians of the Orchestra, was awarded the barge of honor “For Contribution to Culture”. That same year, on the eve of his 70th birthday, the Austrian company “Relief” released his solo CD which included a Boccerini concert, Variations on the theme of rococo, which were recorded together with V.I.Fedoseyev and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and also other cello compositions with this Orchestra.