About this Artist

American bass DEANDRE SIMMONS (Inquisitor / Tsar Ivan) is quickly gaining recognition for his clear velvety voice, incisive musicianship, and captivating stage presence. A frequent recitalist, Simmons will sing songs of Aaron Copland at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. He then joins Carnegie Hall as a singer for several recitals and workshops. 2009 saw Simmons performing Copland’s Lincoln Portrait with the Music Academy of the West orchestra under Leonard Slatkin. In 2008 Simmons sang the roles of Carbon and Inconnu in the East Coast premiere of David DiChiera’s new opera Cyrano with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, before singing in The Beggar’s Opera by Benjamin Britten under Lorin Maazel. He then went on to sing the role of Cal in Regina with the Pacific Opera Victoria in Canada. The summer of 2008 found DeAndre as a fellow of the Music Academy of the West, singing Randolph in the West Coast premiere of A Wedding by William Bolcom. He returned to the Music Academy of the West for his second season in 2009 and this summer returns for his third under the tutelage of Marilyn Horne. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music.