Carlos Simon

Carlos Simon is a versatile composer and arranger who combines the influences of jazz, gospel, and neo-romanticism.

The American Composers Orchestra awarded Simon its 2016 Underwood Commission, bringing him a $15,000 purse for a work to be premiered by ACO on May 23, 2017, at Symphony Space in New York City. Chosen from seven finalists during ACO’s 25th Underwood New Music Readings in June 2016, in one of the most coveted opportunities for emerging composers in the United States, Carlos won the top prize with his work Plagues of Egypt.

Simon was named the winner of the prestigious Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Award in 2015 and the Presser Award from the Theodore Presser Foundation. In the same year, he served as the young composer-in-residence with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings for the 2015-2016 season.

Serving as music director and keyboardist for Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday, Simon has performed with the Boston Pops Symphony, Jackson Symphony, and the St. Louis Symphony. Mr. Simon has toured internationally with soul Grammy nominated artist, Angie Stone, where he performed throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Mr. Simon is currently earning his doctorate degree at the University of Michigan, where he has studied with Michael Daugherty and Evan Chambers. Simon has received degrees from Georgia State University and Morehouse College. In 2011, Simon returned to Morehouse College as a faculty member to teach music theory and various other courses.

Carlos Simon is a member of many music organizations including ASCAP, where he was honored as a “Composer to Watch” in 2015. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Music Sinfonia Fraternity (honorary member), National Association of Negro Musicians, Society of Composers International, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. His compositions have been published by the Gregorian Institute of America (GIA) Publications and Hal Leonard Publications.