Cellist Simon Fryer, one of Canada’s most active performers, began his role as artistic director of the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto in 2006. He chairs the Artists Selection Committee and continues the WMCT tradition of selecting high-calibre Canadian and international artists for appearance on the Music in the Afternoon concert series.

Simon is immediate past director of the Chamber Music Program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, and until recently was cellist of the Penderecki String Quartet, the quartet-in-residence at WLU and one of the Canada’s most successful ensembles. With the PSQ he performed regularly across Canada and around the world releasing several discs including the complete cycle of Bartok’s string quartets and Launch Pad – nominated for a West Coast Music Award.

Simon’s first solo CD for Phoenix Records, Music of a life so far... acclaimed as “a fascinating collection” (Toronto Star) – presents repertoire written during the performer’s lifetime. Also recorded by Centrediscs, Marquis Classics, and Eklektra, he appears on the Juno winning Azulao with soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. A former member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Simon held teaching positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Toronto, and The Glenn Gould School, and has been continuously active as a chamber musician, orchestral player, and soloist in more than thirty countries on six continents.

Simon Fryer pursued his performance studies in his native England at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London before continuing at The Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. In demand not only as a performer but also for his teaching, coaching, and master class skills, Simon maintains a busy schedule at home and abroad.

Visit his website at simonfryer.com