Simon Lawford received his early musical training as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral, and was organ scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, under Dr Bernard Rose. He was Assistant Organist at Peterborough Cathedral and Christ Church, Oxford.
After working at the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, he was appointed Director of Music at Hampstead Parish Church. From 1994 to 2007 he held the position of Organist and Director of Music at St George’s Cathedral, Perth, during which time this choir acquired an international reputation. He also founded George’s Baroque Consort, specialising in the authentic performance of early music including the first period instruments performances in Australia of Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St John Passion.
He has twice performed the complete ‘48’ Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach and appeared as soloist with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 2010 he returned to England to take up the temporary post of Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral, followed by similar roles at Canterbury Cathedral, Magdalen College, Christ Church, Oxford, Chelmsford and Peterborough Cathedrals. In 2022 he was appointed organiste titulaire of the Église Notre Dame de France in Leicester Square, London.
In 2008 he fulfilled a lifelong ambition by performing briefly with the legendary Dutch prog rock band ‘Focus’ in St David’s Hall, Cardiff.