Jan Šimon

He studied with renown violinist Josef Micka, continued at the Prague Conservatory in Jiří Hnyk’s class and in 1991 graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he studied viola with Professor Jaroslav Motlík. He played in the Prague Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and chamber ensembles Musica Bohemica and Prague Madrigalists. He later joined the Czech Philharmonic, where his father Jan Šimon (1913–1974) used to play the cello.

In 1984, he co-founded the Pro Arte Antiqua Praha chamber ensemble which focuses on historically informed performance with early instruments and has recorded over 20 CDs. It collaborates with top soloists and chamber ensembles both in the Czech Republic and abroad. In 2000, he founded the music publishing house ARTESMON with John W. Nomis. The company mainly focuses on soloists and chamber ensembles of the Czech Philharmonic musicians and also works as an agency.

In his free time, he enjoys skiing and playing tennis.