About Simon

Simon Alami composes music for orchestra, wind ensemble, and chamber performance. His works have been performed by the Brazilian National Symphony Orchestra, Marco Polo Orchestra, American Modern Ensemble, and PANdemonium4 Flute Quartet at festivals including the Mostly Modern Festival, Veneto Arts and Music Summit, and Brasília Orchestral Summit.

In 2024, he was awarded 1st Prize at the 6th Swiss International Music Competition and 1st Runner-Up at the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto Emerging Composer Competition. His work has received support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

Born in Fez, Morocco, Alami grew up surrounded by music. His father was a singer at Radio Télévision Marocaine. After immigrating to Canada and a career in business administration, Alami began composing during the pandemic. His first work, Piano Quintet No. 1, premiered in 2023 and led to mentorship with composers Robert Paterson, Saad Haddad, and Antonio Gervasoni. He took early retirement in January 2025 to compose full-time.

Alami's music explores what he calls "a conversation between traditions"—treating cultural materials as living elements that transform through contact. His most personal work, Symphonic Dances for wind symphony (commissioned by the University of Washington, premiere March 2026), traces a journey between Morocco and Québec through five interconnected dances. Other significant works include Moroccan Dances Suite, Obsidian Reflections, and Evanescent Frequency.

Alami is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers. He resides in Montreal.