Simon Cook was born in the UK, but lived in Italy till he was seven. In his teens he worked both as an organ builder, and a church and circus organist. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music and Cambridge University, he went on to study and teach music in the Netherlands and Indonesia. As an ethnomusicologist, he researched the music of West Java, contributing the article on Sundanese music in the New Grove Dictionary of Music. He directs gamelan ensembles at Royal Holloway University of London and City University.  He also plays sackbut in a renaissance band, and organises monthly gigs at Bracknell Jazz, where he is the house pianist.  He plays ophicleide in the Brazilian band Polcas e Boas, and is currently trying to learn the bandoneon. He teaches music at ACS International School Cobham.