Simon Thoumire is a virtuoso English concertina player, composer, and passionate advocate for Scottish traditional music.

Starting at age 12, he learned from Alistair Anderson's teaching materials and gained early performance experience at Edinburgh Accordion Club. His talent was recognised when he won the BBC Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician Award in 1989, launching a distinguished career spanning over three decades.

A prolific composer and performer, Simon has collaborated with numerous acclaimed artists including Ian Carr, Dave Milligan, and John McCusker. His compositions range from intimate duets to major works like the Scottish Requiem and Music for a New Scottish Parliament. His recent releases include "Portraits" with Dave Milligan (2023) and their latest live album "Glasgow Concert" (2024).

Current projects include "Dol Fodha Na Grèine," a new suite debuting at Celtic Connections 2025, and "Ceilearadh" - five innovative bagpipe solos based on South Uist birdsong, premiering at the 2025 Piping Live Festival.

As founder of Hands Up for Trad, Simon has been instrumental in promoting Scottish music and culture. One of the organisation's flagship programmes, the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award, celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of nurturing emerging talent. His ongoing commitment to Scottish traditional music continues through performances, compositions, and mentoring the next generation of musicians.