Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Simon Reade graduated from the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music in 1988, having majored in composition. Simon received a Bachelor of Education from the University of Tasmania in 2005.
 
Simon has been working as a Brass Specialist since 2000. He is employed by the Tasmanian Education Department and teaches at Ogilvie and Clarence High Schools and Bellerive Primary School.
 
Simon is also Musical Director of the Hobart City Band, Conductor of the Tasmania Youth Orchestra Sinfonia and Musical Director of the Hobart Summer Theatre School.
 
In his spare time Simon composes. He has filled commissions from the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, the Festival Of Voices (Tasmania), IHOS Opera and the Hobart Chamber Orchestra. Simon's band music is published through Brolga Music and he is a represented composer at the Australian Music Centre.
 
As a conductor, Simon has premiered works by Don Kay, Russell Gilmour and Simon Barber as well as his own works.
 
Simon was appointed Musical Director of Hobart City Band in 1997 and has led the Concert Band (now known as  Hobart City Wind Symphony) to win three Australian National titles  (2004 Australian National Open B Grade Concert Champion and 2009 and 2010 Australian National Open A Grade Concert Champion) as well as a number of Tasmanian titles (2004 - 2006 Tasmanian Open B Grade Concert Champion and 2007 - 2009 Open A Grade Concert Champion).
 
Simon is Principal Trumpet in the Hobart City Brass Band. Simon came first in the Solo Trumpet Section of the 2010 Australian National Band Championships.
 
In 2008 Simon was awarded the Tasmanian Bands League Badge of Honour for services to banding in Tasmania.