Simone Rubino - About

BBT has played a fundamental role in my artistic development, opening doors to the music world and supporting me both professionally and personally. Their guidance and trust have allowed me to grow as a musician, gain confidence in my path, and engage more deeply with the international musical landscape. The opportunities and encouragement I received through BBT continue to inspire and influence the direction of my career.

BBT first met Italian percussionist Simone Rubino in London just days before the first Covid 19 lockdown in 2020 and immediately discovered he is also a highly accomplished singer. Since then we have come to know Simone for the Renaissance man he truly is – not only a highly successful recitalist and soloist performing with top international orchestras, but also a passionate and gifted mentor, curator, composer, director and, crucially, a consummate communicator and collaborator. He takes percussion from the periphery to the centre of the baroque, classical and contemporary music scenes and delights in the challenges of building bridges between performers and audiences, and between generations, styles and ideas.

BBT engaged closely with Simone to support his development and experimentation in several projects, the first of which was Il Ritmo della Terra (The Rhythm of the Earth), a chamber work commissioned from Italian cellist and composer Lamberto Curtoni for voice, vibraphone, percussion, harpsichord and strings. Inspired by the poetry of Italian writer and playwright Mariangela Gualtieri, it calls us to listen to the healing rhythms of nature and reflect on our place within the natural world. Simone performs as both singer and percussionist and also played a key role in the design, staging and directing of the film which, with the support of BBT, was commercially released for download and streaming. It was also screened at London’s Wigmore Hall alongside Simone’s live performances as part of BBT’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

As well as financial and consultancy support for several other exploratory projects, BBT also assisted with funding to upgrade Simone’s online presence, including his own website and social media channels.

Simone was supported with a BBT Fellowship between 2020 and 2026.

For a current biography please visit simonerubino.com

Read a blog by Simone, Lockdown Commission for Singing Percussionist, here

Press Release: Il Ritmo della Terra

Photographs by Marco Borggreve