Simon Carroll is a percussionist, composer and elementary music teacher with over 20 years of professional performance experience. His work centers on orchestral percussion and Brazilian music, shaped by extensive performance and study in both classical and folk traditions. He holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance and Composition from California State University, Northridge; and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Florida.

Carroll has been the timpanist with Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra for over 15 years, touring throughout the United States, South America and Europe—including performances in an opera starring John Malkovich. From 2013 to 2018, he served as music director for Viver Brasil Afro-Brazilian Dance Company and collaborated with producers on Disneyland’s long-running Viva Navidad street parade. His Brazilian band, MôForró, released the album O Rio Magoou in 2020.

His Brazilian percussion studies include immersive folk training in Brazil and Cuba. In collaboration with his mentor Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro, Carroll co-authored the instructional multimedia book How to Play Pandeiro like Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro. He is fluent in Portuguese and conversational in Spanish and Tagalog.