Simon
Housner

Cellist Simon Housner joins the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at the start of the 2025-2026 season after performing with the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, and Symphony in C.

As an enthusiastic global music ambassador, Housner has concertized extensively on chamber and orchestral tours to Europe, Asia, and Latin America. With Holland America Line’s Resident Piano Trio, he sailed around the world in 2024, connecting with diverse audiences through a variety of innovative programming. Housner’s dedication to community placemaking began with the Sacred Heart Concert Series at Oberlin, an outreach project he founded from 2019-2023 with a mission to bridge the gap between conservatory musicians and the residing community.

A spirited chamber musician, Housner has performed with esteemed artists such as Martin Beaver, Richard O’Neill, Kathleen Winkler, Toby Appel, Marilyn McDonald, and Ivo-Jan van der Werff. He collaborated with Alex Kerr and Paul Ellison in a conductor-less ensemble as principal cellist of the Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra. Housner also held principal positions in the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA, Shepherd School Symphony, Oberlin Contemporary Ensemble, Temple Prep YCO, and Philadelphia Sinfonia. Housner had the privilege of working with some of the world’s most eminent conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Daniel Harding, Hans Graf, and Cristian Măcelaru.  Housner was a featured guest artist for DACAMERA of Houston, Apollo Chamber Players, Carnegie Hall Vienna Philharmonic Masterclass Series, and WQXR Young Artists Showcase. His festival highlights include Britt Festival Orchestra, Lucerne Festival, Music Academy of the West, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute, Manchester Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival Fellowship, Encore Chamber Music Institute, Zodiac Music Academy, Credo Music, and three tours with Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA.

Housner completed his B.M. with a minor in philosophy from Oberlin College Conservatory, and a M.M. from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. His significant mentors include Desmond Hoebig, Chris French, Paul Kushious, and Darrett Adkins. He is grateful to have received additional instruction from the Cavani, Verona, and Jasper string quartets. Housner has guided the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra, Symphony in C Youth Orchestra, and Rice University Campanile Orchestra. He is intent on continuing this role of teaching and cultivating the next generation.

Outside the practice room, Housner is an avid birdwatcher. He grew up in the Philadelphia area and volunteered as a curatorial assistant for the ornithology department at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.