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Simon Estes brings his Roots and Wings tour to Clarke Community High School and Clarke County 7 p.m. May 2.
The concert features Simon Estes performing familiar selections from Broadway and opera as well as inspirational songs and spirituals. Pianist Tzu-Han Hsu will also perform.
Estes will be joined by choirs from Clarke Community and Murray High schools. The concert will close with Simon Estes and the combined choirs in a rousing performance of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
More about Simon Estes
Internationally renowned bass-baritone Estes enjoys the acclaim of audiences and critics around the globe.
Since his debut with the Deutsche Opera Berlin in 1965, Estes has performed with major international opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, New York; Lyric Opera, Chicago; San Francisco Opera; La Scala, Milan; Deutsche Opera, Berlin; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; The Washington Opera; L’Opéra de Paris; Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona; the State Operas of Hamburg, Munich, Vienna and Zurich and at the Bayreuth, Salzburg and Glyndebourne Festivals.
Beginning in March 2010, Estes embarked on his Roots and Wings tour, which will bring him to perform in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Estes contributes 50 percent of his fee from these concerts to the Simon Estes Iowa Foundation to support scholarships for graduating high school seniors in the counties where he has performed.
To date, 175 scholarships totalling more than $185,000 have been awarded to students from 47 counties across Iowa pursuing a wide range of studies in a college or university of the recipients’ choice.
Estes, a native of Centerville, is the father of three daughters, and he and his wife now live in Iowa.
Professor Estes has teaching positions at Iowa State University and Wartburg College. He also maintains an active schedule of performances and master classes.
Recent Awards presented to Dr. Estes include the Distinguished Iowa Citizen Award and the Alumni Award of Iowa State University.