Simone Menezes is a visionary and inspiring musician who has been making waves on the international scene through award-winning projects that blend excellence and tradition with creativity.
A protégée of Paavo Järvi, she studied at the École Normale de Paris and previously at Unicamp. She began her career in Brazil as the principal conductor of Unicamp and collaborated with the Sao Paulo State Youth Orchestra and Claudio Cruz. In 2016, she established herself in France, where she founded the acclaimed Ensemble K.
Simone has conducted some of Europe's leading orchestras, including the Munich Philharmonic, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphonic Orchestra of Brazil, Orchestre National d’Ile de France, Orchestre National de l’Opera de Lorraine, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, and at the Philharmonie de Paris.
She has premiered over 20 works. Her K Ensemble has released 2 critically acclaimed CDs. In 2023, her film "METANOIA" won the International Classical Music Award for Best Performance/Documentary in Classical Music, with unanimous approval from the jury composed of 20 international classical music magazines.
Recent and upcoming engagements include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Douai, and the Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris.
With the K Ensemble, Simone has concerts in Paris, Venice, London, and Lille. She has recorded with the London Philharmonia and Zurich Opera, and her projects are available on Medici and Mezzo TV.
She regularly collaborates with esteemed soloists such as Fazil Say and Gautier Capuçon. Simone also engages in unique multidisciplinary projects, such as the 'Amazonia' concert in collaboration with photographer Sebastião Salgado.