Simon Trpceski (born in 1979 in Skopje) is one of best young pianists alive today. He has performed with a number of prestigious philharmonics from all over the world. Even before his graduation from the Faculty of Music in Skopje (2002) in the class of Professor Boris Romanov, Simon started winning international awards. In 2000, he won the London International Piano Competition, and from 2001 to 2003 he was a member of the BBC New Generation Scheme. After his graduation he was also awarded with the Young Artist Award by Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Society. Afterwards, his career started moving upwards very fast.

His work has been published by EMI records, and recordings of Rachmaninov, Chopin and Debussy have received critical acclaim and several awards. Simon, so far, has performed with many of the principal National Orchestras in Europe including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amsterdam), the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, DSO Berlin, the Strasbourg Philharmonic, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, NDR Hamburg, and the Royal Flanders Philharmonic. He has collaborated with acclaimed conductors like Lorin Maazel, Jaap van Zweden, Gianandrea Noseda, Antonio Pappano, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Andrew Davis, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Charles Edouard Dutoit.

Simon Trpceski also promotes the musical origins of his homeland. After curtain calls with standing ovations, he almost always plays compositions from his country, such as the "Skopsko oro" (a folk dance named after the capital Skopje) or “Na Struga dukan da imam”.

“I have always wanted to incorporate my country’s music, if not in the programme itself, at least as a surprise for audiences during encores. I believe in the potential of our folklore. If arranged professionally and tastefully, within the frames of classical music, it is my greatest pleasure to perform it. In fact, it is in my blood!” Trpceski told Southeast Europe: People and Culture.

Regarding the national philharmonic orchestras in Europe, Simon says that each of them has its own characteristics. “It can be noticed especially in the nuances of the tones, which on many occasions are the result of the different schools dominating each country and also from the visions of the head director, who leads the development of the orchestra. I have been lucky to perform with fantastic orchestras, in Europe and in the world, and their differences are always welcome and important for the development of creativity. The pleasure I get from this is indescribable,” says Trpceski.

His website contains a saying in Latin: “Per Aspera ad Astra’. Simon told us that this very well known saying, which actually means “Through hardships to the stars”, is his father’s legacy to him.

“That is the road my family has passed through, and all that has been achieved and fought for so far. To reach the success I have reached, means to work with the whole family and its support. This dimension is even greater and is equivalent to a "miracle”, since I come from a small country, with a small tradition in classical music. I grew up in turbulent times, times of transition, which are still present in the country, which places additional burdens on possibilities for development. I grew up in a very modest fashion, and my life has been modest since. That is why that proverb is there, and I believe that everyone that knows how to interpret it, and even more, those who have felt it on their skin, will understand” said Simon.

At the end of the conversation, the musician tells young musicians to believe in themselves and what they do. "May they not trip on petty pebbles, as my grandfather would say” says the pianist.