Episode #85 - Simon Sweeney

Episode #85 - Simon Sweeney

Author: Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces September 21, 2020 Duration: 1:29:36

Simon Sweeney is a professional trumpet player and educator based in Sydney. He is a studio musician and has been prolific in the live music scene since 1993. As a member of the Jazz Faculty at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 2010 he has taught many of the young players currently working in the Sydney scene.

Simon has appeared as guest Principal trumpet with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Film recording credits include Happy Feet, The Great Gatsby, The Extra and The Bank.

Simon has played on over 40 professional musical theatre productions since the mid 90s. He has played lead trumpet for Michael Bublé, George Benson, Paloma Faith and Tim Minchin. As a jazz musician he has toured and recorded with Mike Nock, played with the Space Cadets, recorded with the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra and he is currently co-lead trumpet of the Australian National Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with Silverchair, Thirsty Merc and recorded with Powderfinger and Billy Thorpe.

Simon's lead playing can be heard on the Netflix series Beat Bugs and Motown Magic. Simon's own small group jazz album "Emerald City Blues" was released on the Jazzgroove label. During the lockdown he has put together a horn section called the Emerald City Horns comprising some of Sydney's most prolific studio musicians.


There's a whole world of sound that happens before the music reaches the audience, a space filled with the clatter of valves, the whisper of breath, and the shared stories of a unique community. The Other Side Of The Bell-A Trumpet Podcast invites you into that world, offering a backstage pass to the realities of brass life. Hosted by the team at Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces, this series goes far beyond simple gear talk. Each episode feels like a conversation in the practice room, blending practical trumpet tips that address the daily hurdles players face with deep-dive interviews featuring the musicians themselves. You'll hear firsthand stories about the craft, the unexpected challenges of performance, and the personal journeys that shape an artist's sound. This podcast is built on decades of specialized knowledge, translating the nuanced experiences of embouchure, articulation, and endurance into accessible insights. Whether you're a student navigating your first orchestral audition or a seasoned professional refining your approach, the discussions here are grounded in real-world application. It’s about the person behind the instrument as much as the instrument itself, creating a genuine resource for anyone passionate about the trumpet. Tune in for a blend of technical wisdom and personal narrative that only comes from a lifetime spent listening from the other side of the bell.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode #84 - Danny Falcone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:05
Daniel Falcone began working professionally in Las Vegas at age 15. The son of Vincent Falcone, musical director, pianist and conductor for Frank Sinatra, he literally grew up on stage. Starting in high school, Daniel ba…
Episode #83 - Morris Northcutt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:32
Morris Northcutt's playing has been described as artistic, lyrical and expressive with a beautiful, smooth, and rich tone. At home in all musical styles from swing to Broadway to classical, this Global Music Award Winner…
Episode #82 - Karl Sievers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:51
Dr. Karl Sievers enjoys a successful and varied performance career, having performed in countless studio sessions, on live television, in jazz ensembles, chamber music of all kinds, solo recitals, and in symphony orchest…
Episode #81 - Matthias Höfs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:10
When he was six years old, Matthias Hoefs declared the trumpet "his instrument, because it shines so nicely". He received his musical education from Professor Peter Kallensee at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatr…
Episode #80 - Jim Manley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:44
Jim Manley figures he had spent around 10,500 plus nights playing his trumpet around town in his hometown of St. Louis since the 1970's. His recordings have gathered critical acclaim as well and have traveled all over th…
Episode #79 - Bria Skonberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:01
Bria Skonberg is a trailblazing triple threat trumpeter, singer and songwriter. Born in British Columbia, Canada and now residing in New York City, the Juno Award winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album has performed hundreds o…
Episode #78 - Christopher Still - Honesty Pill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:45
Honesty Pill founder Christopher Still joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Second Trumpet in 2007. Before coming to California, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Symphony. He has also held the positions of…
Episode #77 - David Elton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
David Elton is principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra since December 2017 and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra since 2011. David is also a trumpet professor at the Royal College of Music in London, and a member…
Episode #76 - Gary Guthman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:07
Gary Guthman, originally from Portland Oregon, started his career at the age of nine. As a young teen, Gary was a member of the nationally acclaimed "Seldom Six" Dixieland Band, comprised of 12 to 14 years old who travel…
Episode #75 - Tom Clary of Clary Woodmutes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:03
Tom Clary is a freelance trumpet-player/composer/arranger/woodworker/mute-maker and sometimes-attorney living in Memphis, Tennessee. Tom was born in Northern Ireland, grew up in South Arkansas and moved to Memphis, Tenne…