About Simon

Simon Gidora is a British Columbia born violinist, singer, pianist, composer, and conductor. He is a recent graduate of the Artist Diploma program in Voice Performance at the Glenn Gould School (GGS) of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto under the tutelage of Welsh Baritone Jason Howard. As an opera singer, Simon made his debut as the Steward in GGS’s acclaimed 2023 production of Jonathan Dove’s Flight. While at GGS, he performed in
masterclasses for Edith Wiens, Ema Nikolovska, and Warren Jones.

Previously, he obtained a BMus in Violin Performance under Axel Strauss with a minor in Orchestral Conducting from McGill University. Before that, he spent time at Mount Royal University as part of the APP (Advanced Performance Program) studying violin and voice. His previous violin teachers include Bill van der Sloot, David Gillham, Mary Sokol-Brown, and Kathleen Hovey. Previous voice teachers include John Mac Master, Winston Noren, Alan
Corbishley, and Shelley Dillon. He also studied piano with Patricia Greenfield and Julie Rutter.

Simon remains passionate about music making in all forms. He is particularly interested in the chamber music and art song repertoire, where he feels the more intimate setting allows for a deeper connection between performer and audience. Alongside his partner Isabella Perron, he is part of Duo Mycelia, a multi-genre duo that writes and performs original music across Canada.

Simon is a BC registered music teacher in both violin and voice. He also teaches piano and music theory. He believes that anyone, no matter their age, can benefit immensely from finding their natural, uninhibited musical voice. He has been teaching privately for 10 years, and recently spent two years as a faculty member of the Musical Arts Academy in Etobicoke, Ontario. Simon has recently returned to the Sunshine Coast, having grown up there studying music, performing in the local performing arts festival, and seeing as many Coast Recital Society concerts as he could. He is thrilled to be back in the community, where he is also now director of the Coast String Fiddlers. In his ‘free-time’ he enjoys learning about consciousness, and spending as much time as possible outdoors, hiking mountains and foraging wild mushrooms.