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• Simon Hewitt Jones, Violinist

  English concert violinist. Asking essential questions about what's happening to music and the arts, and the role of the violin in contemporary world culture.

• Contact Me: T: +44 (0) 20 7060 0607 E: shj [at] courtlanemusic [dot] com W: www.courtlanemusic.com Instant: Message My iPhone

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We played a concert in the Centre for Jerusalem Studies in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. The venue itself was a derelict spa awaiting restoration, and a beautiful underground space (if horrendously dusty!). The centre staff decorated the hall with candles and some kind of incense. A special atmosphere is very easy […]

In Ramallah now, it’s so easy to forget that you’re in a conflict zone, because during the day everything is so vibrant and normal-looking. But take a step outside the city and you can run into trouble.
It’s early Sunday morning here, and our (American) artistic director just came into the office (Sunday’s a working day […]

The educational structures and musical experiences that are being instigated in the West Bank by Al Kamandjati, Barenboim-Said Foundation, National Conservatory etc. [and indeed in other countries by other organizations and individuals] are, when done right - and things aren’t always yet done right - the most direct mechanisms for instilling creativity and a thirst […]

I didn’t do any teaching beyond the occasional masterclass during the last few times I was here. But this time, I volunteered to teach for a couple of afternoons.
It took me at least half an hour with the first student to realize that calling the strings ‘G, D, A, and E’ wasn’t going to cut […]

There’s something in the air. Ramallah is much more awake than it was a year ago. It’s very subtle, but it’s noticeable. Leisure facilities are open that weren’t before. Trading is fractionally busier. New restaurants have opened up. Prices are higher (though fuel counts for a lot of that). The expat community and the business […]

Back in Ramallah for some concerts, & also some teaching this time which is interesting. Concerts in Ramallah / Jerusalem on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Nice to see they’re laying down arms for a bit. Hopefully that means that some of the 1million Gazans will have at least something to eat/cook/fuel/treat diseases with…. I’m very hopeful […]

For all of you who’ve been waiting for the Imogen Holst String Chamber Music disc - perhaps the most jinxed project I’ve ever been involved with (not least because of my own inexperience) - it is ALMOST here. Just don’t ask me to pin a date on it :). We’re on the home straight now. […]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZJR-XlUT4
I believe this is actually a recording of me playing when I was very young, though I don’t remember who the pianist is or where or when it was recorded. How it has turned up on some weird animation mashup beats me.