Education & Interests
London-born, Simon Tillier studied clarinet performance under Alan Hacker and Neville Duckworth at the Royal Northern College of Music and conducting privately with Timothy Reynish and Michael Rose. Tillier relocated to North America to pursue masters and doctoral studies in conducting and music education with Glenn Price at the University of Calgary, Canada, and Rodney Winther at the College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Tillier has been on the faculty at UMN Morris since 2011 and continues to have a varied career that includes conducting, performing, and teaching throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, and Latin America. He has served as guest conductor to the Israeli Youth Wind Orchestra and as artistic director to the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. He is a regular guest conductor at events such as the Orquesta Latinoamericana de Vientos in Colombia, South America, and the Hong Kong Youth Music Camp, HKSAR.
Tillier’s interdisciplinary approach to performance provides him the opportunity to commission and collaborate on works involving music, word, theatre, and dance. His research into Shakespeare and music is part of a broader area of interest in the renaissance of British wind music in the late twentieth century.
Tillier currently serves on the editorial committee of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles quarterly magazine.