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Biography
Simon Boyar is perhaps the most electrifying and innovative percussionist on the music scene today. He is redefining the percussive arts and transforming the role of marimba as a major instrument for all musical genres. International audiences have thrilled to his exciting performances and groundbreaking style. Driven by his intense musical vision and unparalleled virtuosity, his goal is a dramatic reshaping of the entire percussion landscape. Reviewers have called him pyrotechnic and miraculous. He has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and PBS (NJN) State of The Arts for breaking new ground in percussive music making. Additionally, he has had prominent features, mentions, and reviews in publications such as Yamaha Signature Sounds, Downbeat Magazine, In Tune Monthly, DCI Today, The NYtimes, The NYPost, The NJ Star Ledger, Javeriana Estereo 91.9 FM, The Puerto Rican Sun, and many others. As a classical artist Boyar has performed around the world. He has appeared as a section percussionist and a soloist with such artists as John Adams, Evelyn Glennie, Lukas Foss, Andres Cardenes, Joshua Bell, David Leisner, Emanuel Ax, Guillermo Figueroa, Leon Botstein, Sergiu Comissiona, Harold Farberman, Gilles Vonsattel, and George Manahan. He has been a featured percussion soloist with dozens of orchestras and ensembles around the world, including The Juilliard Orchestra, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, The American Symphony Orchestra, The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, The Puerto Rico Symphony, The Korean Symphony Orchestra, The Fort Collins Symphony, The Orchard Park Symphony, Exit 9 Percussion Group, The Three Irish Tenors, Harpsichord Unlimited, Syren Modern Dance, and the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice. Boyar is also very active in the expansion of the modern percussion repertoire. He was the first percussionist ever to perform a double concerto with violin (Harold Farberman) and guitar (Andrew Thomas) and to record and premiere the first work for solo marimba "Figment V," composed by Elliot Carter for his 100th birthday celebration (Bridge Records). In 2010, Boyar performed the world premiere of the first-ever marimba concerto by composer Frank Zappa, an arrangement of Zappa's "Revised Music for Guitar and Low Budget Orchestra" arranged by Tom Trapp (Arranger for Steve Vai, Nobuo Uematsu) and conducted by Jonathan Haas. Simon has also performed the world premiere of marimba works by Daniel Levitan, Davide Zannoni, Andrew Thomas, David Eddleman, and NYC percussionist Javier Diaz. An innovative writer and producer, Boyar has composed a vast repertoire of original music, tracks, lyrics, and songs, including the composition of an entire catalogue of concert music and children's songs. Boyar also writes, mixes and produces music compositions for artists of all genres across the music industry. He has collaborated on projects with world-class producers such as Peter Fish (6-time Emmy Award winner, All My Children), and composer Mike Garson (David Bowie, NIN, and Smashing Pumpkins) and has written music and produced for artists such as trumpet player Joey Pero and concert pianist Alpin Hong. He has also composed world premieres for Strings Music Festival and The Las Vegas Youth Orchestra. Simon Boyar is signed with Bachovich publications, the percussion world's most diverse and forward thinking publishing company. Notably, upon his graduation from The Juilliard School, Simon joined the faculty of the school's Pre-College Percussion Department. Mr. Boyar then became the youngest person ever to be named Department Director. Under his guidance, the program blossomed into a vibrant and animated proving ground for new ideas and insights into all areas of percussion. The programs success led to an invitation for Mr. Boyar to join the college faculty at NYU, where he has aided in the creation of a new marimba program unlike any of its kind -- The NYU Contemporary Marimba Ensemble (NYUME), an ensemble dedicated to teaching Boyars unique approach and sound. Mr. Boyar has also recently championed his commitment to education through a partnership with Strings School Days of The Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, CO, where he has shared his gifts with thousands of students through a combination of compositions, concerts, workshops, and artistic discussions. He has participated in workshops with The Las Vegas Youth Orchestra, The Bard Conductors Festival Orchestra, The Conductors Orchestra at Fredonia, and many community and student orchestras such as The National Taiwan Norman University Orchestra and The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band in his hometown of Hillsborough NJ. Simon has also participated in instrumental festivals such as PASIC, CJMEA, and ITG Australia. He has appeared in master classes, lectures, and concerts at colleges and universities around the world. To learn more about Simon's many contributions to education, click here.Boyar is a Yamaha artist and performs on an YM-6000 Concert Grand Marimba. He uses Vic Firth mallets/sticks and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team. He is also a proud former member of DCI's Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. His former teachers include Greg Zuber, David Fein, Greg Giannascoli, and the legendary Joe Morello.Boyar resides in Brooklyn, NY.
© 2011, Simon Boyar. All rights reserved.
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