Simon Ponsford (countertenor) is a soloist and recitalist, and sings with several international ensembles - most frequently with the Monteverdi Choir, The Sixteen and The Tallis Scholars. He has been a soloist with choral societies and chamber choirs across the UK and abroad, in venues including St John’s Smith Square, Winchester Cathedral, the Royal Festival Hall and Hong Kong City Hall. Simon is a Lay Vicar in the choir of Westminster Abbey a role that combines daily service singing with performing at significant national occasions. He was privileged to be part of the choir for both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III.
Coming from a musical family in Gloucestershire, Simon started singing at a young age in Gloucester Cathedral Choir. He went on to study at King’s College, Cambridge, reading for a degree in English Literature whilst being a Choral Scholar in King’s world famous chapel choir. From Cambridge Simon moved to Windsor Castle and spent five years singing in the choir of St George’s Chapel, before moving to Westminster in 2013.
Whilst at Windsor, Simon undertook a postgraduate MA at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Michael Chance. On graduating with Distinction, he was awarded the S & M Eyres Wilson Scholarship and a Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music for outstanding performance.
Performance highlights have included taking part in the ground-breaking tour of Bach’s Matthäus-Passion performed from memory with the Monteverdi Choir, giving a performance of Handel's Athalia in the Sheldonian Theatre, where it was first performed, with the Oxford Bach Choir, and making his international solo debut singing Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. On the opera stage, Simon has sung in the chorus for productions of Handel’s Semele in venues including La Scala, Milan, and a series of performances of Glück’s Orphee et Euridice at the Royal Opera House. Simon has also had a CD of Elizabethan and Jacobean songs, recorded with his father David playing the organ and virginals, released to critical acclaim on Nimbus Records.
Simon now lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Ali and two small daughters, Molly and Hazel. When not engaged in musical activities, he can occasionally be found umpiring cricket matches around the Thames Valley, or parenting.
October 2023
Coming from a musical family in Gloucestershire, Simon started singing at a young age in Gloucester Cathedral Choir. He went on to study at King’s College, Cambridge, reading for a degree in English Literature whilst being a Choral Scholar in King’s world famous chapel choir. From Cambridge Simon moved to Windsor Castle and spent five years singing in the choir of St George’s Chapel, before moving to Westminster in 2013.
Whilst at Windsor, Simon undertook a postgraduate MA at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Michael Chance. On graduating with Distinction, he was awarded the S & M Eyres Wilson Scholarship and a Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music for outstanding performance.
Performance highlights have included taking part in the ground-breaking tour of Bach’s Matthäus-Passion performed from memory with the Monteverdi Choir, giving a performance of Handel's Athalia in the Sheldonian Theatre, where it was first performed, with the Oxford Bach Choir, and making his international solo debut singing Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. On the opera stage, Simon has sung in the chorus for productions of Handel’s Semele in venues including La Scala, Milan, and a series of performances of Glück’s Orphee et Euridice at the Royal Opera House. Simon has also had a CD of Elizabethan and Jacobean songs, recorded with his father David playing the organ and virginals, released to critical acclaim on Nimbus Records.
Simon now lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Ali and two small daughters, Molly and Hazel. When not engaged in musical activities, he can occasionally be found umpiring cricket matches around the Thames Valley, or parenting.
October 2023
