Carlos Simon (composer) facts for kids

Carlos Simon (born in 1986) is an amazing African-American composer of Western classical music. He creates new musical pieces that are performed by orchestras and groups around the world.

Carlos Simon holds several important positions. He is the composer in residence for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which is a famous place for arts in Washington, D.C. He is also the first-ever Composer Chair for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a very well-known orchestra. Plus, he teaches music as an associate professor at Georgetown University.

Carlos Simon's Early Life and Music Journey

Carlos Simon was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Atlanta. His father was a preacher, so Carlos mostly listened to gospel music when he was young. This type of music, with its free and creative style, really helped shape how he writes his own music. He also learned from famous classical composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms.

When he was just ten years old, Carlos started playing piano for church services. This is when he also began taking formal piano lessons. Later, he even worked as a keyboard player and music director for R&B singers like Angie Stone and Jennifer Holliday.

Carlos studied music at Morehouse College and Georgia State University. He then went on to get his advanced degrees at the University of Michigan. Before teaching at Georgetown, he was a music professor at Spelman College and Morehouse College. In 2019, he became a professor at Georgetown University.

Important Roles and Awards

Carlos Simon has achieved many great things in his career.

Composer Chair for the Boston Symphony Orchestra

In 2024, the Boston Symphony Orchestra announced that Carlos Simon would be their first Deborah and Philip Edmundson Composer Chair. This is a special three-season role where he will:

• Lead concerts that teach people about music.
• Work with conductor Andris Nelsons to choose music for performances.
• Write new pieces for the Boston Symphony Orchestra to play.

Sphinx Medal of Excellence

In 2021, Carlos Simon received the Sphinx Medal of Excellence from the Sphinx Organization. This is a very special award, and he was only the second composer ever to receive it! In the same year, he also became the composer-in-residence at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Sundance/Time Warner Composer Fellow

In 2018, he was named a Sundance/Time Warner Composer Fellow by the Sundance Institute. This program supports talented artists.

Grammy Award Nomination

In 2023, Carlos Simon was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album, Requiem for the Enslaved. This nomination was in the category of Best Contemporary Classical Composition.

The Magis Prize

On September 5, 2024, Georgetown University announced that Carlos Simon was one of the winners of The Magis Prize. This award is given to scholars who are making a big impact in their field. It gives them $100,000 and time off from teaching to focus on their research and creative work.

Carlos Simon's Musical Style

Carlos Simon's music often explores important ideas about social justice. He frequently includes themes of fairness and equality in his work.

Elegy

One example is his piece called Elegy for string quartet. This music honors the memories of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner.

Requiem for the Enslaved

Another powerful piece is Requiem for the Enslaved. In this work, he combines African-American spirituals (religious songs) with parts of the traditional Latin mass and elements of hip hop music. This piece tells the story of the 1838 Jesuit slave sale, where enslaved people were sold to help pay off debts for Georgetown University.

Carlos Simon also finds inspiration from visual artists, like Bill Traylor and Romare Bearden, for his compositions.