Simon studied at the Royal College of Music and in 1991 joined the London Symphony Orchestra
He went on to become junior principal of timpani and percussion from 1995, then joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra as principal timpanist in September 2002.
Simon is a professor of timpani at the Royal Academy of Music and has taught and given masterclasses around the world. He has also coached the timpani and percussion sections of many student orchestras including the National Youth Orchestra, Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and European Union Youth Orchestra.
As a percussionist he enjoyed playing vibraphone in Steve Reich’s Sextet at the Barbican in 1996 and he has also given a number of duo recitals (vibraphone and marimba) with Andrew Barclay at prestigious venues such as Dorchester Abbey and Fareham Library.