Simon Velthuis – cello

Simon Velthuis (Haaksbergen, 1992) started playing the cello at the age of nine. Before he started at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, was taught by, among others, Maria Hol, Paul Uyterlinde and Jeroen Reuling, with whom he took part of the preparatory class at the ArtEZ Conservatorium Zwolle during his high school. During his bachelor's degree at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Simon was taught by Floris Mijnders. After successfully completing his final exam in 2015, he followed his master's degree at the same conservatory with Maarten Mostert and Dmitri Ferschtman, where he graduated in September 2018. In addition to lessons from his regular teachers, Simon was taught by Anner Bijlsma, Pieter Wispelweij, Viola de Hoog (baroque cello) and Mick Stirling (orchestral playing), among others.

During his studies, Simon developed a preference for chamber music and orchestral playing. He acted as solo cellist in various youth orchestras (including the Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and the National Youth Orchestra) and as a substitute with professional orchestras (including the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonie ZuidNederland and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra). As a chamber musician he performed in various ensembles (including Cello8ctet Amsterdam and Intercontinental Ensemble) in many halls in the Netherlands and abroad. Simon plays an English cello, built in London around 1840, made available to him by the Dutch National Musical Instruments Fund.