What the critics say about his compositions:
Kalinsky Duff proved to be a beautiful piece of music
Fort Nelson daily News
An impressed audience gave the (Irish) symphony a standing ovation.
Bruce Citizen
(Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra)
the audience was taken on roller coaster ride of swiftly changing moods and tempos that showcased Cole\'s breathtaking technique on clarinet. They were rewarded with a stunningly beautiful coda with the clarinet playing a gorgeous melody of long notes in the highest range.
Bruce Citizen.The Spirit of the One Song arts reception and grand performance was an amazing
showcase of local talent culminating in a feeling of community that spread
throughout the theater space Citizen
What the worlds top players say about his compositions:
I particularly enjoyed your rhapsody for clarinet, keep on composing!"
Pamela Weston one of the world\'s foremost researchers and writers on the clarinet Author of "Clarinet virtuosos
I listened to your rhapsody for clarinet BRAVO!!!\"
Richard Stoltzman clarinetist/recording artist
"Spectacular arrangements" Michael Hall conductor
I consider myself to be a self taught composer. I use my many years of orchestra and chamber music playing (I have been a working professionally as a clarinetist since the age of 15) and much study to inform my compositional style. I had the usual formal musician training but it deserves no credit for the musician I am today.
I believe music should speak to the time it is composed in, that it should even in it's darkest moments have beauty and that it need not depend on superficial effect.
I live and travel by choice in the Northern part of BC it's landscapes, history and spirit are a great influence on my work.
Most of my works receive repeat performances.
My latest performed works (2013-2023) include:
- A Northern suite ( this was originally the score to an animated movie) for chamber orchestra. 20 min
- PG places a series of chamber pieces depicting places in Prince George. 15 min
- Trio on northern themes for violin clarinet and piano 20 min
CMC BC Head Librarian Stefan Hintersteininger ("a dazzling and virtuosic Trio on Northern Themes"),
- Score for Canfor interactive exhibit \"The air we share\"
- Homestead 20 min vioin clarinet cello piano version also presented as a school show with slides.
"Thank you Alban Classic for the fabulous concert you performed for our school on Thursday, June 11. Here are a few thoughts about the concert from the students in grades 5 & 6….
Thank you for teaching us about Huble homestead. I especially liked the information about the music at that time
Thank you for playing the songs. I loved the songs and all the cool instruments
Thank you for coming, the music was great. It was descriptive
I loved all the songs about the birds in the barn…I felt like I was actually there
I like how you used special instruments for special parts
I am happy that you came and that you showed us all the instruments and the waxed pipe
I thought the music was really beautiful and peaceful
I appreciated the comments between all the music. That made it more meaningful to me. I also loved the wedding dance mixed into the music
The music brought back memories
The music was very meaningful. It reminded me of the blacksmith. That was a fun part of my trip to Huble when I was six
I’m impressed that Simon wrote all that music – way to go!
I loved how the instrument music matched the ideas
- Birth of a City 2016 20min
Excellent concert last night. Simon Cole's "Birth of a City" was amazing, powerful, unexpected, perfect. Such talent here in PG. Bravo!
I especially loved the use of voice as pure musical instrument in that piece - beautiful!
- Dark Forest 2016 performed by the Toronto Symphony
- The Return 2022
- 9 arrangements for singer songwriters 2023 described as Stunning, Epic,Bold Spectacular....
I LOVE IT!!!!! I feel like John Wayne in My Country! Great job Simon! Sounds soooo huge and fun. Rachelle van Zanten.
“We then handed over some original song recordings to Simon Cole for arranging. He did a wonderful job putting together giant orchestrated arrangements to take the songs where they have never gone before,” Rachelle van Zanten.
"When I look at the musicians and I listen to the arrangements that were sent to me by Simon (Cole, clarinetist, composer) and I can hear my song in there, it’s huge. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and in this situation I kind of feel like a new budding musician amongst all this amazingness. To be able to amplify the messages in my songs, I think is what I’m most excited about. “I can’t wait to sit back and actually listen to the performances and I know it’s going to be epic,” Gouchie said..” Kym Gouchie
"I have heard a lot of feedback from audience members and the overall response is that it was powerful. I felt the power when all of the 54 instruments kicked in. Every song gave me goosebumps,” said van Zanten. Those in attendance on April 15 for the PG Symphony Sessions - Shun uts'utejun would agree - a powerful night of music!
"Spectacular arrangements" Michael Hall conductor
"simply Stunning" "Bold" audience members
Earlier:
I was awarded a major commission to compose One Song Universus. Canada council awarded the pgso a grant to tour with it and in 2010 the BC government recognizing the importance of this work awarded a $50,000 grant to form an entire festival around it. It has also been played 32 times on tour in it's quartet version. Other performed orchestral works include: The Irish symphony 1798 , My Dog overture, Music for Social occasions, Rhapsody for clarinet, Adagio for clarinet and strings, Chamber symphony. I have also composed a number of chamber works and pieces for students .
My orchestral work Kalinnisky Duff was recorded by the late great conductor Georg Tintner
I performed my Rhapsody for clarinet and piano as guest soloist for the International Clarinet Association.
My compositions have been broadcast Provincially and Nationally on CBC.