Scholars@Duke

Simon Ertz is principal viola of the Winston Salem Symphony, North Carolina Opera and North Carolina Chamber Orchestra. As principal of Winston Salem Symphony he regularly performs solos, including in November 2016 performing the Britten Double Concerto.  He plays as a regular substitute in both the North Carolina and Charlotte Symphonies. As an educator he teaches viola privately as well as at North Carolina State University, Duke University and Meredith College.
Simon was the violist with the Degas Quartet from 2002 until 2012; before that he was pursuing a masters degree in viola performance at Michigan State University where he was also a teaching assistant. Simon received his Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from UNCG in 2016.
After receiving his Bachelor's degreefrom the RNCM in Manchester, UK Simon was working with orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, Northern Chamber, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
As a member of the Degas Quartet Simon has performed in venues across the country including appearing as guest artists at the Aspen Music festival, the Chicago Chamber Music Society and at the Library of Congress where he performed on the Tuscan Medici Stradivarius.
Simon Ertz plays a viola made by his brother, Neil Ertz