About Me
Simon Boyar is perhaps the most electrifying and innovative young percussionist on the music scene today. At the age of 27, he is already redefining the percussive arts and transforming the role of marimba as a major instrument for all musical genres.
International audiences have thrilled to his exciting performances and groundbreaking style. Driven by his intense musical vision and unparallel virtuosity, his goal is a dramatic reshaping of the entire percussion landscape.Reviewers have called him “pyrotechnic,†and “miraculous,†and he was recently featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered†for “breaking new ground†in percussive music making. Additionally, he has had prominent features, mentions, and reviews in publications such as Yamaha Signature Sounds, DCI Today, The NYtimes, Page Six of The NYPost, The NJ Star Ledger, The Puerto Rican Sun, and many others.An innovative writer and producer, Simon produces dance music, beats and has composed a vast repertoire of lyrics, trax and songs. In addition to performing own compositions, Simon writes, mixes and produces music for numerous artists. He has also composed an entire catalog of concert music and children’s songs.Boyar has performed in dozens of countries around the world and has appeared with such artists as John Adams, Evelyn Glennie, Joshua Bell, Emanuel Ax, Guerllimo Figueroa, Leon Botstein, Sergui Commishiona and George Manahan.He has been featured percussion soloist with The American Symphony Orchestra, The Puerto Rico Symphony, The Korean Symphony Orchestra, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, The Juilliard Orchestra and the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice. He was the first percussionist ever to play and record a double concerti with violin and guitar.Upon his graduation from the Juilliard School, Simon joined the faculty of the school’s Pre-College Percussion Department. He ultimately became the youngest person ever to be named Department Director. Under his guidance the program blossomed into a vibrant and animated proving ground for new ideas and insights into all areas of percussion. The program’s success led to an invitation to join the college faculty at NYU, where he has aided in the creation of a new marimba program unlike any of its kind and created “The NYU Contemporary Marimba Ensemble,†an ensemble dedicated to teaching Simon’s unique approach and sound.Helping to drive that program is The Boyar Method, a radical new technique for the marimba developed by Boyar. The Boyar Method is designed to expand the creative and rhythmic potential of the instrument. The Method has allowed Simon to produce a revolutionary new sound for the marimba never believed possible. He is currently featuring The Boyar Method in all his performances.In the coming year, Simon will be performing with the New Mexico Symphony, the National Taiwan Normal University Orchestra, the Conductors Orchestra at Fredonia, the Jerusalem Symphony and the NYU Zappa Festival Orchestra. Simon is a Yamaha artist and performs on a YM-6000 Concert Grand Marimba. He uses Vic Firth mallets/sticks and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team. He is also a proud former member of DCI's Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps.
