“They came, they played, they conquered! Their talent, sense of humour, sensitivity, spirit and lyricism are remarkable.”

Lebanon Review

“About the performances there can be nothing but praise.”

Gramophone

“A recommended recording of outstanding quality.”

BBC Music Magazine

“Outstandingly beautiful playing with an exceptional, wonderful variety of tone colours and technically stunning in the Franck Sonata.”

Pan Magazine

Simon Lenton was born in Warwickshire in 1970. He won a scholarship to study the trumpet at Trinity College of Music in London with Iaan Wilson.

As soloist he has performed with various ensembles most notably the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony, London Concertante, The Adderbury Ensemble and the English Symphony Orchestra where he has been principal trumpet since 1995. The same year, Simon was asked to join the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble (Europe's most successful brass quintet) also as first trumpet. With Fine Arts Brass he has performed all over the world, recorded several CDs and broadcasted for radio and television in a variety of different countries.

In addition to the above, Simon is much in demand as a freelance trumpeter and is known for his ability to work in a variety of different styles from baroque period ensembles to pop bands. He has performed, broadcasted and recorded with many of the symphony, opera, ballet and theatre orchestras of the UK and beyond. These have been as diverse as the orchestras of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, to the Moscow State Circus! He is known as an exponent of the high register of the trumpet, from the Clarino writing of J S Bach to playing 'lead' trumpet with American super groups like Sister Sledge, The Three Degrees, The Temptations and The Supremes. His debut solo disc, "Music for a Perfect Day", with the organist Kevin Bowyer was picked by the BBC Music Magazine for its reader offer in January 2000 describing it as 'stunning virtuosity'. The music critic of the Kentucky Herald, USA said of him: "I wanted to put his performance in a gold memory box." This was bettered only by the Nigerian Guardian who described him as "short and cleanshaven." (!) Simon holds teaching positions at the universities of Warwick, Wolverhampton and The Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School.

Simon plays Smith-Watkins Trumpets exclusively.