Simon Estes

Simon Estes (born February 2, 1938) is an American bass-baritone.

Estes was born in Centerville, Iowa, USA. His Baptist father was a coal-miner. He entered the University of Iowa studying pre-med, psychology and religion and became the first black member of the university's "Old Gold Singers." His singing caught the attention of faculty member Charles Kellis, his first and only voice teacher, who introduced Estes to opera. In 1964 funds raised in Iowa allowed Estes to attend the Juilliard School, and in the following year he made his debut in "Aida" at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. In 1978 he sang the title role in "Der fliegende Holländer" at Bayreuth, the first male African-American to sing a major role on stage there. His 1985 reprise of the same role at Bayreuth was captured on video, and is still considered to be one of the best available on DVD. In 1985 Estes sang Porgy in the Metropolitan Opera's first production of Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess".

Simon Estes

Internationally acclaimed bass baritone Simon Estes has sung at the world's major opera houses as well as in front of presidents, popes and internationally renowned figures and celebrities including Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Boris Yeltsin, Yasser Arafat, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Mr. Estes rose from humble beginnings in Centerville, Iowa, as the son of Ruth Jeter and the grandson of a slave sold at auction for $500, to become one of the world's most accomplished African-American opera singers, paving the way for other African Americans in the classical music world.

One of Dr. Estes's greatest career moments was in singing the role of Amonasro in Aida, along with Leontyne Price as Aida in her farewell performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Leontyne Price, who suffered actual threats on her life when she first opened at the Met, explained, "Simon, it's going to be even more difficult for you. Because you are a black male, the discrimination will be greater. You have a beautiful voice; you are musical, intelligent, independent and handsome. With all of these ingredients, you are a threat. It will be more difficult for you than it was for me." Simon Estes, who strongly believes that we create our own destiny, has transcended discrimination, achieving insurmountable success and going on to help others.

Known for his humanitarian efforts, Mr. Estes has helped talented students attend the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, he has established the Simon Estes Educational Foundation which has awarded over one million dollars in merit-based college scholarships. The Simon Estes International Foundation for Children in Switzerland was established in 1993 and has saved lives by providing support for child health needs in Switzerland and Bulgaria.

During the 1998-99 school year, 40 musically gifted students from the Simon Estes School, serving some of the poorest children in South Africa, attended Des Moines-area high schools under the sponsorship of Rotary District 6000 and performed throughout Iowa as the Simon Estes South African Youth Chorus.

More recently, Estes turned his attention to the fight against HIV/AIDS, the now leading cause of death among African Americans. At the forefront of Artists for HIV/AIDS prevention and education, Estes leads a collective voice of artists, who through music and arts, seek to break down socio-economic barriers as well as the stigma associated with the disease.

He is a professor of Music at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where he gives voice lessons when he is in residence. He has performed in Wartburg's Christmas concert, Christmas With Wartburg, and has been known to go on spring tours internationally with Wartburg's concert choir. He is listed on the artist faculty of Boston University and he is also the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. [http://music.iastate.edu/faculty/estes Simon Estes] . Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre website.] His many honorary degrees include a doctorate from Iowa State University, and he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Iowa.

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