American bass, DeAndre Simmons (he/him), having been hailed as being the performances "class act" by the Los Angeles Times, continues to gain recognition for his beautifully velvet voice, incisive musicianship and captivating stage presence. He has performed with such great opera houses and orchestras as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, San Diego Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, Columbia Pro Cantare, Opera Panama, Pacific Opera Victoria, Castleton Festival under Maestro Lorin Maazel, Santa Barbara Symphony, London Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony, RAI orchestra, and other companies throughout Europe and the U.K. DeAndre 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. He was also cast as Detective Watts in the workshop of 'Séance on a wet afternoon,' a new opera by musical composer Stephen Schwartz.

 

DeAndre has officially performed in either musicals, operas, symphonically or in recital in all 50 states. He has performed in Canada, South America, the UK, countries in Africa and throughout Europe. Highlights of his career include singing Mozart's Requiem in the presence of His Holiness Pope John Paul II and was one of only 10 performers asked to participate in a special concert for Nelson Mandela. In 2015 he was invited to perform for the World Childhood Foundation's 16th Anniversary Gala in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden. 

 

As an American, DeAndre considers it a distinct honor to have had the honor of performing for both sitting and non-sitting Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon.

 

Portraying the role of Montrellous in the play Clydes by Pulitzer Proze winner Lynn Nottage (Moxie Theatre), his recent musical credits include Boatman in Sunday in the Park with George and Ken in Ain't Misbehavin',(CCAE Theatricals), Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar and Kerchak in Tarzan (Moonlight Theatre). Other credits include playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Father in Children of Eden and Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. Having spent years under the tutelage of the great Barbara Cook, he frequently performs the music of musical theatre and the  American Songbook in recitals, concert and cabaret. His recent cabaret of songs by Stephen Sondheim titled, "Just me and Stephen: the songs of Stephen Sondheim" has been highly regarded and is now in popular demand across the country.

 

Upcoming engagements include Montrellous in Clydes (Moxie Theatre) Bonze in Madama Butterfly (San Diego Opera) and The Falling and the Rising (Bodhi Tree Concerts, west coast premiere) and both lieder and American songbook recitals. 

 

An alumnus of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, DeAndre is a pupil of Fred Carama and protégé of James Morris and Barbara Cook.