DeAndre Simmons
Bass
American bass, DeAndre Simmons has been hailed by The Los Angeles Times as, “A class act” and continues to gain recognition beautifully sinuous and resonant voice, captivating stage presence and incisive musicianship. He has already performed with a large number of opera companies, symphony orchestras and in recital halls in both the US, North/South America and Europe. Mr. Simmons has sung in the premiers of several works including the West Coast premier of A Wedding by William Bolcom, the Canadian premier of Regina by Marc Blitzstein - also recorded for broadcast across Canada and the East Coast premier of Margaret Garner by Richard Danielpour and libretto by Toni Morrison. Some roles include Sprafucile (RIGOLETTO), Sarastro (DIE ZAUBERFLOTE), Leporello (DON GIOVANNI), Figaro (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO), Barak (DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN), Assur (SEMIRAMIDE), Mustafa (L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI), Basilio ( IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA), Amonasro (AIDA), Oroveso (NORMA) and others. DeAndre continues a highly successful run of performances in recital of Schubert's Die Winterreise with performances in Ontario,Canada and both Berlin and Bonn, Germany. Of his first performance music critic Daniel Kepl wrote, "Simmons' innate musicianship and vocal presence was apparent from the first notes of the opening song in the cycle, 'Gute Nacht'. Immediately filling the nave with his authoritative technique and interpretive intellect, it was Simmons' disarmingly silken voice that surprised, tempering his vocal prowess with gentle prescience." (CASA Magazine) DeAndre is a serious recitalist and singer of the Great American Songbook - with emphasis on the music of Stephen Sondheim. He is an alumnus of The Manhattan School of Music in NYC and The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He is a pupil of Fred Carama and protégé of James Morris.
