Simon Pickering -Since graduating in music from University of Southampton in 1996, Simon has been a freelance musician working with a vast array of different professional productions, both in the West End and regionally.

West End:

Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre) – Associate Conductor; Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre) - Associate Conductor; We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) - Associate Conductor; Cabaret (Lyric Theatre) - Associate Musical Director

Dreamgirls, Bat Out Of Hell, Billy Elliot, Whistle Down The Wind, Mamma Mia! Doctor Dolittle, Grease, Never Forget, Hairspray – Piano & Keyboards

Touring/regional productions:

Tell Me On A Sunday (RCCL cruises), Hairspray, Cabaret, The Wedding Singer, Starlight Express, Blood Brothers, The Three Phantoms (Scandinavia tour) and The Wizard Of Oz (Cyprus). Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Aladdin (Aylesbury Waterside) – Musical Director. Snow White (Southampton Mayflower) – Musical Director.

He has been a supporter of The Brighton Academy since it first opened its doors and has subsequently been balancing his time between performing and education.

In addition to his TBA teaching, Simon also teaches and recruits performers for several major cruise lines and hotels (Viking, P&O, Cunard, Holland America, Seabourn, Warner Leisure Hotels).

As a producer, he has established West End On-Sea Productions, creating professional musical cabaret shows that have played in Brighton and London.