AN UNPARALLELED
CAREER
BREAKING COLOR BARRIERS FOR SINGERS
The grandson of a slave, Simon Estes was born March 2, 1938 in the small town of Centerville, Iowa. Simon’s mother cultivated his faith and interest in music and he began singing as a soprano in church at a very early age.
He was “discovered” in 1961 by a University of Iowa professor, Charles Kellis, who became his life-long voice teacher and friend. After graduating , Mr. Estes studied briefly at the Juilliard School of Music.
In 1965, Mr. Estes made his operatic debut in Berlin, as a bass-baritone in Verdi’s Aida. In 1966 he won the bronze medal in the prestigious Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow for the festival’s first ever vocal competition. From 1965 to 2011, he performed in opera houses around the world.
In 1978, his triumphant performance in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman marked the first lead by an African American male at the famed Bayreuth Festival in Germany. He went on to perform The Flying Dutchman over 400 times.
Mr. Estes finally got his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1982 in Wagner’s Tannhäuser. He also sang in Verdi’s Aida with legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti and soprano Leontyne Price in San Francisco, a role he reprised with Price in her farewell Met appearance in 1985. Mr. Estes also starred as Porgy in the Met’s first performance of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, then opened the 1986 Met season as Wotan in Wagner’s Die Walküre, under celebrated conductor James Levine. He continued singing at the Met for 6 years. Mr. Estes’ final performance in opera was in 2022 as Lawyer Frasier in the Des Moines Opera production of Porgy and Bess.
Yet, Simon’s amazing life story transcends the music that made him famous. Simon used his operatic acclaim and devout faith to give back and inspire others through his philanthropy, humanitarian service and 27-plus years teaching music to the next generation of artists.
Through initiatives such as the Simon Estes Scholarship Funds, the Simon Estes Educational Foundation, and his work with the United Nations Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria campaign, he has used his voice and influence to uplift thousands of others around the world.
Discovered “through the closed door” by Professor Charles Kellis, 1961
Audition and acceptance at Juilliard Music School, King Philip in Don Carlo, 1963
Opera debut, Berlin Deutsche Oper, Ramfis in Aida, 1965
Munich Competition, won bronze medal, 1965
Audience with Pope John Paul VI, 1965
Tchaikovsky Competition, Moscow, bronze medal, 1966
White House performance for President Lyndon Johnson, 1966
Televised appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, 1966
Created role of Uncle Albert, in The Visitation, Hamburg, 1967
Lead role of Carter Jones, in The Visitation, San Francisco, 1968
White House performance for President Richard Nixon, 1970
Performance at 25th Anniversary Concert for The United Nations, 1970
U.S. operatic debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago, 1971
Performance at U.S. premier of Shostakovich Symphony #14 Philadelphia, 1971
Performance at Opening Ceremonies, Munich Olympic Games, 1972
Performance of Boris Godunov for the first time, Lübeck, Germany, 1973
Performance at opening of Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington DC, 1973
Performance of lead in Porgy and Bess in Zurich debut, 1976
Performance of lead in The Flying Dutchman for the first time in Zurich, 1976
Performance for first time in famed Teatro La Scala opera house, Milan 1977
Performance of lead in The Flying Dutchman at Bayreuth Festival, Germany, 1978
Performance for first time in famed Wiener Staatoper opera house, Vienna, 1978
Performances at the Bayreuth Festival for the next six consecutive years, 1978-84
White House performance for President Jimmy Carter, 1979
Performance for first time in famed Palais Garnier opera house, Paris 1981
Offered first contract to sing at the Metropolitan Opera of New York, 1981
Met performance debut as Landgraf in Wagner’s Tannhäuser, 1982
First black male lead to open a season at Metropolitan Opera, 1982
Performances at the Met for the next six consecutive seasons, 1982-88
Founded the Simon Estes Educational Foundation, 1983
Live telecast with Leontyne Price in her farewell Met performance in Aida, 1985
Performance of lead in the Met’s first production of Porgy and Bess, 1985
Presented with American Black Achievement Award by Ebony Magazine, 1985
Performance at the centennial celebration for Statue of Liberty, 1986
Televised White House performance for President, George H. W. Bush, 1989
Performance for Nelson Mandela at Riverside Baptist Church, NY, 1990
Performance for Independence Day celebration on National Mall, Washington DC, 1990
Performance at Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Norway, 1990
Performance as lead reprised at Met’s Porgy and Bess, 1990
White House performance for President, George H. W. Bush, 1990
Audience with Pope John Paul II, 1990
Performed title role in King (MLK bio story), London, 1991
Performance Independence Day celebration for US Ambassador, Berne, 1992
Performance for 250th anniversary of Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, 1993
Performance of title role in Boris Godunov, Leipzig, 1993
Audience with First Lady Hilary Clinton, 1993
Established Simon Estes Foundation for Children in Zurich, Switzerland, 1993
Performance for 300th anniversary or Leipzig Opera House, 1993
Performed in Mahler #8 inaugurating Bamberg concert hall, Germany, 1993
Performance for Desmond Tutu at Cathedral of St. John, NY, 1994
Dedication of Simon Estes Auditorium in Centerville, IA, 1994
Performance of Count Cenci in premier of Beatrice Cenci, Berlin, 1994
Performance Gala Opening of Israeli Opera House, Tel Aviv, 1994
Performance of title role in Nabucco, Cape Town, South Africa, 1995
Performance at 50th Anniversary Concert for The United Nations, 1995
White House performance for President Bill Clinton, 1996
Performance as lead in Porgy and Bess, Cape Town, South Africa, 1996
Performance for Desmond Tutu in St. George Cathedral, South Africa, 1996
Dedication of Simon Estes Amphitheater, Des Moines, IA, 1996
Performance at 50th anniversary of Iowa All-State Music Festival, 1996
Performed title role in King (Martin Luther King bio) at presidential inauguration ceremonies, 1997
Founded the Simon Estes High School in Cape Town, South Africa, 1997
Touring The Iowa All-State Concert Tour, 1997-1998
Performance of 100th operatic role as lead in Simon Boccanegra DC, 1998
Performed at the Gen. Colin Powell’s Alliance for Youth conference, 1998
Published autobiography In His Own Voice, 1999
Performance at Met for the last time as Amonasro in Aida, 1999
Taught master classes in Leipzig, Germany, 2008
Served as jury president for Vocal Competition in Geneva, Switzerland, 2009
Performance at FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2010
Initiated Roots & Wings fundraising tour of 99 Iowa counties, 2010
Creation and sales of benefit CD Save the Children, Save their Lives, 2013
Performance benefit for the Revival of Classical Culture at Carnegie Hall, 2017
Awarded Lifetime Impact Award by United Nations Foundation, 2017
Performance at 75th Anniversary Concert for The United Nations, 2020
Iowa State University renamed music building as Simon Music Hall, 2020
Inducted among the first 10 in the Opera America Hall of Fame, 2020
Awarded the Iowa Character Counts Award, 2021
Received an Honorary Doctorate from Juilliard School, 2022
Final Performance in an opera as Lawyer Frasier in Porgy & Bess, Des Moines, IA, 2022
Awarded the Iowa Humanitarian Award, 2023
Awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal, 2023
Awarded the University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award, 2025
Bach: St. Matthew’s Passion
Role: Orchestral solo
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Role: Orchestral solo
Beethoven: The Missa Solemis
Role: Orchestral solo
Bellini: Norma
Role: Oroveso
Bizet: Carmen
Role: Escamillo
De Falla, Atlantida
Role: Corifeu
DeMars: An American Requiem
Role: Orchestral solo
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
Role: Raimondo
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess
Role: Porgy
Goldschmidt: Beatrice Cenci
Role: Count Cenci
Gunter Schuller: The Visitation
Role: Uncle Albert
Haydn: Creation
Role: Orchestral solo
Handel: Messiah
Role: Orchestral solo
Meyerbeer: L’Africaine
Role: Don Pedro
Monteverdi: Il Ritorno D’Ulisse in Patria
Role: Nettuno
Mozart: Idomeneo
Role: Oracle of Neptune
Mozart: Requiem
Role: Orchestral solo
Mozart: The Magic Flute
Role: Sarastro
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov
Role: Boris Godunov
Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffmann
Role: Lindorf
Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffmann
Role: Coppelius
Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffmann
Role: Dapertutto
Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffmann
Role: Dr. Miracle
Puccini: Tosca
Role: Scarpia
Rossini: Semiramide
Role: Ghost of Nino
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila
Role: High Priest of Dagon
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14
Role: Orchestral solo
Strauss: Salome
Role: John the Baptist
Strauss: Elektra
Role: Orest
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat
Role: Orchestral solo
Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex
Role: Creon
Stravinsky: Pulcinella
Role: Orchestral solo
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onégin
Role: Eugene Onégin
Verdi: Aida
Role: Amonasro
Verdi: Aida
Role: King of Egypt
Verdi: Aida
Role: Ramfis
Verdi: Attila
Role: Attila
Verdi: Ernani
Role: Don Carlo
Verdi: Don Carlos
Role: King Filippo II
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Role: Count di Luna
Verdi: McBeth
Role: McBeth
Verdi: Nabucco
Role: Nabucco
Verdi: Nabucco
Role: Zaccaria
Verdi: Otello
Role: Iago
Verdi: Oberto
Role: Oberto
Verdi: Requiem
Role: Orchestral solo
Verdi: Simon Bocanegra
Role: Simon Bocanegra
Verdi: Un ballo in Maschera
Role: Renato
Wagner: The Flying Dutchman
Role: The Dutchman
Wagner: Le Vaisseau Fantôme
Role: Canaple
Wagner: Parsifal
Role: Amfortas
Wagner: Tannhäuser
Role: Landgraf
Wagner: Tannhäuser
Role: Hermann
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
Role: Marke
Wagner: Die Walküre
Role: Wotan
Ames, Iowa State University
Baltimore, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Bamberg, Konzerthalle Bamberg
Barcelona, Gran Teatro del Liceo
Basel, Stadtcasino Konzerte
Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker
Berlin, Deutsche Oper
Berlin, Gerarmenmarkt Konzerthaus
Berlin, Komische Oper
Bern, Grand Casino Bern
Bayreuth, Markgräfliches Opernhaus
Bonn, Beethovenhalle
Bonn, Stadttheater Bonn
Bonn, Oper der Stadt Bonn
Bordeaux, Grand Théâtre
Bregenz, Festspielhaus
Brooklyn, New York Academy of Music
Brussels, Palais Des Beaux Arts
Cantania, Teatro Massimo Bellini
Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral
Cape Town, Nico Opera House
Chicago, Orchestra Hall
Chicago, Symphony Center
Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Cleveland, Severance Hall
Cologe, Kölner Philharmonie
Des Moines, Civic Center
Des Moines, Des Moines Metro Opera
Durban, City Hall
Frankfurt, Alte Oper
Geneva, Grand Théâtre
Graz, Oper Graz
The Hague, Dr. Anton Philpszaal
Hamburg, Alte Post
Hamburg, Michalis Church
Hamburg, Staatsoper Hamburg
Keowacht, Festival van Zeeuwsch-Vlaaderen
Kracow, Beethoven Easter Festival
Las Palmas, Las Palmas de Grand Canaria
Leipzig, Gewandhaus Concert Hall
Leipzig, Oper Leipzig
Leuggern, Stifung Kirche St. Peter and Paul
Lille, Nouveau Ciécle
Lille, Salle Vauban-Grand Palais
Linz, International Bruckner Festival Linz
Linz, Lanestheater
Lisbon, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
London, Covent Garden
London, Piccadilly Theater
London, Royal Festival Hall
Lübeck, Theater Lübeck
Ludwigsburg, Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg festival
Lucerne, Kunsthaus
Lucerne, Lucerne Festival
Lyon, Auditorium Maurice Ravel
Madrid, Auditorio Nacional Musica
Madrid, Teatro Nacional Zarzuela
Madrid, Teatro Real
Miami, Florida Grand Opera
Milan, Duomo di Milano
Monte-Carlo, Palais Princier de Monaco
Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica
Moscow, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
Munich, Bayerische Staatsoper
Munich, Herkulessaal
Munich, Münchner Philharmoniker
Munich, Prinzregententheater
New York, Avery Fisher Hall
New York, Carnegie Hall
New York, The Juilliard School of Music
New York, Lincoln Center
New York, Riverside Baptist Church
New York, St. John the Divine Cathedral
New York, The Metropolitan Opera House, New York
New York, The Statue of Liberty Island Park
Nice, Opéra de Nice
Oslo, Oslo Konserthus
Ossiach, Carinthischer Musikfestival
Paris, Chatelet
Paris, Opéra Bastille
Paris, Palais Garnier
Paris, Salle Pleyel
Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
Paris, Festival de Saint-Denis Basilica
Pittsburg, Heinz Hall
Orange, Chorégies d’Orange
Ottawa, National Arts Centre
Peralada, Castell de Peralada Festival
Philadelphia, Academy of Music
Philadelphia, The Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia
Prague, Autumn International Festival, Rudolfinum
Ravinia, Il, Bennet Gordon Hall
Rome, Sala Nervi, Vaticano
Rome, Santa Cecilia
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Tabernacle
Salzburg, Salzburger Festspiele
San Francisco, War Memorial Opera House
San Juan, The Casals Festival
Santa Cruz, Auditorio de Tenerife
Santander, Palacio de Festivales
Sevilla, Teatro de la Maestranza
Stockholm, Berwald Hall
Stockholm, Royal Swedish Opera House
Stuttgart, Staatsoper Stuttgart
Tel-Aviv, New Israeli Opera House
Torino, Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi
Toronto, Roy Thomson Hall
Toronto, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Tulsa, Tulsa Opera
Valencia, Palau de la Música
Vienna, Musikverein
Vienna, Wiener Staatsoper
Villach, Festival Carinthischer Sommer
Vilnius, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall
Washington D.C., Capitol
Washington D.C., JFK Center for the Performing Arts
Washington D.C., Kennedy Center
Washington D.C., National Opera
Wettingen, Pfarrant St. Anton
Wiesbaden, International May Festival
Zurich, Hallenstadion
Zurich, Neumünster Church
Zurich, Opernhaus Zürich
Zurich, Tonhalle
Beethoven, Symphony #9
Conductor: Davis
Recording: Philips
Beethoven, Symphony #9
Conductor: Giulini
Recording: PGDI/Deutsche Grammaphon
Berlioz, Romeo et Juliett; Les Nuits d’Eté
Conductor: Muti, Barbirolli
Recording: EMD/EMI Classics
Bizet: Carmen
Conductor: Ozawa
Recording: Philips
Blackford: King A Musical Testimony
Conductor: Blackford
Recording: Decca
Classic Aids Gala
Conductor: Maazel
Recording: Philips
De Falla, Atlantida
Conductor: Colomer
Recording: Auvidis-Valois
Delius: Koanga
Conductor: Groves
Recording: EMI
DeMars: The American Requiem
Conductor: DeMars
Recording: BWE
Fauré: Requiem Op. 48
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
Recording: Philips
From Opera to Gospel
Conductor: Various
Recording: Praise Productions
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess Highlights
Conductor: Slatkin
Recording: Philips
Goldschmidt: Beatrice Cenci
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
Recording: Philips
Handel: Messiah
Conductor: Zagrosek
Recording: Sony
Haydn: Leonard Bernstein; The Royal Edition
Conductor: Zagrosek
Recording: Sony
Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass
Conductor: Bernstein
Recording: Columbia
International Tchaikovsky Competition, vol.3 Great Vocalists
Conductor: Various
Recording: BMG/Melodiya
Mahler: Symphony #8
Conductor: Gielen
Recording: Sony
Mozart: Idomeneo
Conductor: Harnoncourt
Recording: Teldec
Mozart: Requiem
Conductor: Giulini
Recording: Sony
Ol’ Man River: Broadway’s Greatest Hits
Conductor: Waters
Recording: Philips
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila
Conductor: Davis
Recording: Philips
Shostakovich: Symphony #4
Conductor: Ormandy
Recording: RCA
Spirituals
Conductor: Estes
Recording: Philips
Steal Away: My Favorite Negro Spirituals
Conductor: Estes
Recording: Deutsche Schallplatten
Simon Sings His Favorite Gospels & Spirituals
Conductor: Wade
Recording: Praise Productions, Inc.
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat
Conductor: Dutoit
Recording: Teldec
Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex
Conductor: Salonen
Recording: Sony
Stravinsky: Pulcinella
Conductor: Boulez
Recording: Teldec
Tchaikovsky: International Tchaikovsky Competition vol. 3
Conductor: Various
Recording: BMG Classics
Verdi: Aida
Conductor: Navarro
Recording: HRE
Verdi: Arias
Conductor: Delogu
Recording: Philips
Verdi: Don Carlos
Conductor: Salonen
Recording: EMI Classics
Verdi: Oberto
Conductor: Peskó
Recording: Orig Italia
Verdi: Requiem
Conductor: Schneidt
Recording: BMG/Arte Nova
Wagner: The Flying Dutchman
Conductor: Nelsson
Recording: Philips
Wagner: Parsifal
Conductor: Levine
Recording: Philips
Wagner: Parsifal, Richard Wagner Edition
Conductor: Levine
Recording: Philips
Wagner: Arias
Conductor: Fricke
Recording: Philips
Simon Estes On Broadway
Conductor: Bill Wade
Recording: Praise Productions
Save The Children, Save Their Lives
Conductor: Michael Golemo
Recording: Iowa State University