Bob Simans

Composer, activist and SNO violinist known for his work with Simon Rattle and Nicola Benedetti Born: March 8, 1937; Died: March 6, 2018

ROBERT Simans, who has died aged 80, was a highly talented, versatile musician, composer and teacher, who in addition to a successful career as a violinist – under the baton of many of the great conductors – taught the “keen” Simon Rattle, as a youngster, and accompanied Nicola Benedetti in her formative years.

Born in Harrogate in 1937, into a Jewish family, Robert Casper Peter Simans (known as Bob to his friends and fellow players) was a professional violinist who, in a long and distinguished career, served two separate residencies as 1st violinist of the SNO, under Sir Alexander Gibson.

A prodigious talent, Mr Simans was equally adept on piano (on which he was entirely self-taught) as on violin, and as both conductor and composer, leading Orchestra B during military service at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, prior to graduating from the Royal Academy of Music.

After a five-year residency with The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, during which he played under Sir Malcolm Sargent and taught violin to a young Simon Rattle, noting his student’s “particular attention to detail” and “keen ear”, Mr Simans came north, with his beloved wife, Kathleen, native of Dundee (and a fellow player in the Liverpool Phil). The couple settled in Glasgow, where he remained for the rest of his life.

North of the Border, his career continued to flourish, most notably with the SNO, but also at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the orchestras of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. Such was his reputation as a consummate all-rounder, he was once prised from the violin section of the BBC SSO by the conductor Karl Anton Rickenbacher to deputise for the celebrated Romanian concert pianist, Radu Lupu, during a rehearsal of Beethoven’s 1st Piano Concerto (which he sight-read). Although Lupu appeared for the subsequent evening performance, friends only half-joked that Mr Simans would have made a most able replacement.

He was thus regarded by both friends and colleagues as something of a trailblazer, albeit in his own typically understated and humble manner. In particular, his understanding of the intrinsic value of music as a source of enrichment to the soul and to the wider culture was well ahead of its time, reflected in (amongst other things) his co-founding of the BBC Scottish Symphony Club, initiated when he discovered that the BBC was planning to mothball one of Scotland’s best orchestras.

After stepping back from full-time orchestral playing (he never retired, always sensing that he had something more to give), he went on to make a remarkable and some would say unparalleled contribution to civic life in Scotland, displaying an unstinting concern and support for the elderly, disabled, homeless, and, most notably, for nurturing the musical talent of young people. This included performing approximately 1,600 times (across Scotland) with the Council for Music in Hospitals; partnering with Annabelle Meredith to develop and perform fresh musical programmes aimed at educating and enriching the lives of older people; and performing regularly in some of Glasgow’s homeless hostels.

The greater part of his later life was given over to passing on his love of music to young people, for whom he worked tirelessly, serving as accompanist to the young Nicola Benedetti (through his long association with her mentor Brenda Smith), and teaching violin (often on a voluntary basis) at St Mary’s Primary School, in Maryhill.

He reprised this role of teacher and mentor on a voluntary basis for many young singers and musicians over the past 20 years, especially through the Glasgow-based Academy of Sacred Music, of which he was co-founder. Devoting at least two days per week to The Academy, he served as official accompanist, but also as conductor and, latterly, as composer – to his great joy, The Academy premiered his All of Light, in October 2017, a work partly reflecting his own spiritual journey, written in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Fatima apparitions.

Mr Simans was a profoundly spiritual man up to his death, attending mass at the University of Glasgow Catholic Chaplaincy several times per week, where he was a much-loved and valued member of the community.

Few who met Mr Simans would have failed to note a profound generosity of spirit. This was as much evident in his recent organisation of a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius (in honour of the retiral of Archbishop Mario Conti), as in his appreciation and encyclopaedic knowledge of Gilbert and Sullivan, and his comic ability (reminiscent of Dudley Moore) to play simple tunes in the style of the major composers.

The extent of Mr Simans’s investment in those he helped to nurture is perhaps best summarised in his ongoing friendships with both Sir Simon Rattle and Nicola Benedetti. Right up to his death, he continued to attend their performances, where possible, and to encourage them in their endeavours – he will be greatly missed by the many thousands of people who benefited from his concern, attention and dedication.

Mr Simans is survived by his wife, Kathleen, with whom he celebrated his golden wedding anniversary, in 2016, in addition to close relatives Sue, Luci, John, Roger and Pamela.