Michael A. Simpson

Before taking leadership of the Winter Park Orchestras, Michael served as director of a combined middle and high school orchestra program in St. Lucie County.

Before moving to Florida he taught in Norfolk, Newport News and Richmond, Virginia. In addition to his current duties, he also serves regularly as a workshop leader, clinician or Music Performance Assessment adjudicator to other school orchestras and youth orchestras in Florida.

Michael has given numerous solo recitals on the viola in Virginia, Florida and the United Kingdom and has held positions in the viola section of the Virginia Symphony and the Peninsula Symphony of Virginia. He was principal violist of the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra and the Richmond Classical Players Chamber Orchestra. Michael has also served as conductor of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra, the Indian River Youth Symphony and the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony.

Michael is a cum laude graduate of Norfolk State University with a Bachelor of Science in Public School Music and a minor concentration in viola performance. His previous teachers have included Weigang Li of the Shanghai String Quartet, Beverly Baker, principal violist of the Virginia Symphony and Judith Beverly, former assistant principal violist of the Richmond Symphony. He holds professional memberships in the Florida Orchestra Association/Florida Music Educators Association, the American String Teachers Association, the Music Educators National Conference and the Ft. Pierce Jazz Society.

Contact information:

Michael A. Simpson

c/o Winter Park High School Orchestra

2100 Summerfield Road

Winter Park, FL 32792

(407) 622-3200, ext. 2317