Simmy Singh is a versatile violinist and composer, born and raised in South Wales to an Indian father and English mother, whose ambition is to push the boundaries of classical music and its audiences and to explore creativity and different genres with the violin. She believes in diversity and connection and is passionate about applying these values to the projects she undertakes.

​

In the classical world, Simmy co-founded the innovative Manchester Collective. A young classical organisation redefining the experience of the classical concert with eclectic programming of world class classical and experimental works presented in both concert halls and club venues around the UK.
Highlights include their 2019 Sirocco tour with cellist, Abel Selaccoe - with performances in Switzerland, Kings Place, CLF Arts Cafe and a sold out performance at the Dora Stoutzker Hall in Cardiff.
They also toured with Poul Hoxbro - a pipes and bones player from Denmark, which included a sold out performance at Stoller Hall in Manchester. Both these tours included story telling, original material and improvisation.

 

Simmy is currently on trial as principal second in the Manchester Camerata - an orchestra she has worked with extensively over the past years. She led the orchestra for their Hacienda Classical performance at the Dubai Opera House, and toured extensively with them for many of these performances - including the Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury, 2017.

 

Simmy was a core member of Sinfonia Cymru, a chamber orchestra from Cardiff. Here she played principal second in their classical concerts but also played a pivotal role in their cross-genre and collaborative projects. such as the Birdsong project with Gwilym Simcock and Kizzy Crawford. She has recently joined the orchestra’s board of trustees and is excited to continue her journey with the orchestra.

 

Simmy has always been keen to push her career far beyond the classical world and has developed a thriving career as a cross-genre violinist. She is leader of the Kaleidoscope Orchestra - who’s recent success with their ‘lockdown sessions’ series has seen them reach 50,000 subscribers, as well as appearances on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Breakfast.
They are also the orchestra in residence for Cream and last year headlined the Cream Classical in the Park performance to 32,000 people at Sefton Park.

Simmy is also leader of the Ignition Orchestra, who sold out the Royal Albert Hall for their Garage Classical performance with DJ Spoony.

She also leads the Untold Orchestra, who are set to perform with renowned jazz pianist and composer, Bill Laurance, later this year and are quckly becoming Manchesters most diverse and thriving young crossover orchestra.

 

Simmy also leads Amika - a cross-genre string quartet - who recently toured with Tom Walker for his acoustic ‘Home Run’ Tour. They have also performed with and recorded for Alfa Mist, Jordan Rakei (joining him for his sold out acoustic performance at Ronnie Scotts), Alice Zawadski, Stuart McCallum, Poppy Ajudha, The Breath and Natalie Williams - appearing on all these artist’s latest albums. 

 

In 2017, Simmy was chosen as one of ten participants for the Brighter Sounds Jazz Director Series, who spent a week rehearsing and touring with world renowned jazz artist, Chris Potter. 

 

In 2018, Simmy joined her sister, Rakhi Singh, to develop and perform in Written in Fire - a project devised by electronic artist Vessel. This included a memorised performance of Janacek’s String Quartet - Intimate Letters, followed by a new work for string quartet, electronics and visuals.

ILater this year, Simmy and Rakhi  will combine again to direct a project with Sinfonia Cymru, combining their individual musical paths with a 12-piece string ensemble. This will to include arrangements of Simmy’s original works.

 

Simmy is also a member of the Immix Ensemble - a classical ensemble of unusual instrumentation who collaborate with artists across genres. Highlights have included sell out performances with Jane Weaver, Kelly Lee Owens and Forest Swords (premiered at PRS New Music Biennial). 

 

Following a Musician in Residence programme at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, Canada in 2017, Simmy has begun to work on developing her own creative practices towards becoming a composer-perfomer, as well as her capacity as a remote recording artist.

​

Her most recent creative success has come from her all-string rework of Four Tet’s track LA Trance in March 2020. The artist ended up sharing her version on all his social platforms and it has been played on BBC Radio Cymru and on Elizabeth Alker’s Unclassified series on BBC Radio 3. As a direct result of Four Tet sharing this track, Simmy has been offered an electro-acoustic violin by the Eastman music company in LA, in exchange for delivering a series of videos about her creative process.

​

Simmy prides herself on her remote recording enterprise - Sim’s Strings, where she offers string composing, arranging and recording - which is slowly building up an impressive recording portfolio and through which she hopes to continue working with artists from across genres and the globe and build her profile through association with other like-minded, genre-bending artists. Through this venture, Simmy has collaborated with electronic producers, composers and singer-songwriters including Werkha, Frameworks, Casi, Gwilym Simcock and Bill Laurance.

 

Simmy’s latest endeavour has been to embark on a Masters in Music - The Composer-Performer at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Here she is on a mission to find her own unique voice and to help others do the same. 

 

 

​

​

​