Glenn Gould School Alumna Becomes Juilliard’s First Female Trombone Professor

Published on July 13, 2023

With this groundbreaking appointment, Hillary Simms (ADP ‘20) also becomes a member of the American Brass Quintet

Hillary Simms, originally from Torbay, Newfoundland, has become the first female to be appointed to the trombone faculty of The Juilliard School, founded in 1905.

In addition to earning her Artist Diploma from The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School (GGS) as a Temerty Foundation scholar, Ms. Simms holds a BMus from McGill University, a MMus from Yale University, and is currently pursuing her DMA (Doctorate in Musical Arts) at Northwestern University.

My time at The Glenn Gould School has exceeded my expectations of my own personal growth as a musician. Working with [GGS faculty member] Gordon Wolfe has brought my playing to the next level and gave me the opportunity to perform with music legends like Jens Lindemann and for Michael Mulcahy as a part of the superb master class program the GGS offers. Getting my DMA has been a long-standing goal and I would never have met the requirements of the program [at Northwestern University] if it wasn’t for my time and work at The Glenn Gould School.

Hillary Simms

Praised as “one of the rising stars in the trombone world for her stellar playing, infectious personality and deep musicianship” (Jens Lindemann), Ms. Simms was featured on the 2020 edition of CBC Music's classical "30 under 30" list which was also when she made her solo debut playing the Tomasi Trombone Concerto with the National Arts Center Orchestra. She’s also performed with ensembles including the Vancouver, Chicago, and Newfoundland symphony orchestras as well as Canadian Opera Company. Simms serves on the artistic committee for the Canadian Women’s Brass Collective and is a founding member of the Canadian Trombone Quartet and the Saltwater Brass Quintet.

Said James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School, “We could not be prouder of Hillary’s historic appointment and of all of her accomplishments to-date. She has been a dynamic force in Canada, and we look forward to all that she will achieve in the US.”

With this appointment, Ms. Simms also becomes a member of the acclaimed American Brass Quintet (ABQ) which was founded in 1960 and has been in residence at Juilliard since 1987. ABQ has performed on five continents, made nearly 60 recordings, and premiered more than 150 contemporary works for brass. In addition to its performing and commissioning work, the ensemble is committed to the development of brass chamber music through higher education.