Simon Sargon, Professor of Composition at Southern Methodist University, holds degrees from Brandeis University (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and the Juilliard School. Prior to his appointment at SMU, Sargon taught at Sarah Lawrence College and the Juilliard School, and served as Head of the Voice Department at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. As Director of Music at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas for over 25 years he led one of the most distinguished programs of Jewish music in America.
Sargon enjoys wide recognition as a composer, pianist, and lecturer on music, and his compositions have been performed both nationally and internationally. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has premiered three of his works to critical acclaim, and numerous singers, instrumental soloists, choral groups, and chamber music ensembles have performed his compositions at concert halls and universities across America.
The Texas Music Teachers Association named Sargon its Commissioned Composer in l994 and then for a second time in 2003. He was invited to perform his commissioned composition, a Trio for oboe, horn and piano in Melbourne, Australia during the summer of 2004. Other notable commissions include the he Meadows Foundation, Yale University, Susquehanna University and the Dallas Holocaust Society. Sargon has received the Annual Award of Recognition from ASCAP (1991–present); and was a Distinguished Teacher Award Nominee at SMU (2003). He was inducted as an Honorary Member of the American Conference of Cantors (2003), named a Finalist in the National Opera Association Competition (1997); and awarded First Prize in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition (1993).
Sargon’s works are published by Boosey and Hawkes, Southern Music, Hal Leonard, Transcontinental Music, and Lawson-Gould. His work as both composer and pianist may be heard on the New World, Ongaku and Crystal labels. The Gasparo label has devoted three CD’s exclusively to his compositions. Sargon is listed in Baker’s Biography of Musicians (7th edition) and the International Who’s in Who in Music (llth edition).
