Simon Thoumire (at right in photo)
Born in Edinburgh in 1970, Simon is a musician, composer, record producer, company director, administrator, educator, influencial figure on the traditional music scene and much, much more..

Concertina
An acknowledged concertina virtuoso and composer, he has dazzled audiences with his playing all over his native country and across Europe, Canada and the U.S.A.  A winner of the prestigious BBC Young Tradition Award in 1989, Simon has made numerous radio and television broadcasts including the much - acclaimed Shetland Sessions and Transatlantic Sessions and recorded several ground-breaking CDs.  He has also performed at The Barbican, London for HRH Prince Charles. 

Compositions
"Celtic Connections Suite" - Commissioned by Celtic Connections Festival to mark the opening of their late night club, this suite written for nine folk and jazz musicians has been performed in concert three times and recorded on CD.

"Day Trip to Glasgow" - Commissioned by Glasgow Jazz Festival.

"Music for a New Scottish Parliament" - Written to mark a momentous time in Scottish history this piece was chosen by the BBC for the opening concert of their Music Live Festival at GRCH Glasgow.

"The Scottish Requiem" - Commissioned by Celtic Connections, this piece was performed by Hyndland School Strings and Drumchapel School Choir alongside a group of traditional musicians and singers.

"Ceilidh" - Commissioned by Yehudi Menuin's organisation Live Music Now!

Simon is currently working on a commmission from the ARTSNET organisation for the children of South Lanarkshire Schools.

Foot Stompin' Records
Simon is the driving force behind CD company Foot Stompin' Records Ltd which to date have 22 releases and focuses on seeking out and recording the most creative and talented young musicians "the bright young stars" of Scottish traditional music.  The business is five years old and Simon fulfills the role of Artistic Director.  The CDs feature individual musicians, traditional bands, compilations and contemporary crossover music and a range of instruments including fiddle, bagpipes, concertina, clarsach, accordion and voice.  Every year the label releases the debut CD from the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award.

Education
Encouraging young people to take an interest in their heritage through traditional music, Simon has been involved with all of the major providers of workshops, ie the Youth Gaitherin', Edinburgh; the Edinburgh Feis, Feis Rois, Folkworks, Comhaltas, Glasgow; Celtic Connections Education Programme; Fife Schools; South Lanarkshire Council; Yehudi Menuin's Live Music Now!

Scottish Traditional Music and Song Trust
The trust was brought together by Simon in 2000 to manage the Young Scottish Traditional Musician Award inaugurated by him earlier that year.. The award exists to encourage young musicians to keep their tradition alive and to maximise their musical potential by the pursuit of a career in traditional music and is now in its third year and going from strength to strength.  In 2001 BBC Radio Scotland came on board and the award is now titled the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award.  The Trust are now planning to inaugurate the Scots Trad Music Awards, an annual event to celebrate Scotland's wonderful music and song and to give recognition to the fantastic musicians, performers and organisers who are putting our traditional music on a world stage.  The first event will take place on June 7th (2003) at the Queens Hall, Edinburgh.

Simon is the joint developer and organiser (with Dave Francis) of DISTIL, a project funded by the PRS Foundation and the Scottish Arts Council offering opportunities to professional traditional musicians wishing to acquire advanced music skills.

"Traditional Music Conversations".  Also started in 2002, a series of concerts featuring musicians, chosen by young people and geared towards keeping youth involved in playing and listening to traditional music.

Future projects include inaugurating two summer schools for traditional music in the Central belt.