How old is simon estes

From to , he has performed to great acclaim in opera houses around the world. Estes and his wife, Ovida, have three daughters, Jennifer, Lynne, and Tiffany. Estes has maintained a commitment to young people through the numerous scholarship organizations that bear his name. Simon Estes and Mary L. Landauer, Co. Kellis introduced Estes to several classical recordings which led Estes to change his professional career path to singing.

Estes was cast in the role, and made his professional debut at the Deutsche Opera in Berlin. He later won third prize in the Munich International Music Competition in and the bronze medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Also in , President Lyndon B. Johnson invited Estes to sing at the White House. Estes has performed at many major opera houses around the world, and with top opera singers including Leontyne Price and Luciano Pavarotti.

Simon Estes was born in Centerville, Iowa, on February 2, His father was a coal miner. He, his brother, and two sisters were given a religious upbringing. Estes was a boy soprano in a local Baptist church. His voice did not change until his senior year in high school, and for about three years, his vocal ability was limited. He did, however, sing tenor in the chorus at the University of Iowa. While there, he began study with Charles Kellis, who reclassified Estes as a bass-baritone and taught him vocal technique, diction and interpretation.

Kellis also was responsible for exposing Estes to opera through recordings of artists such as Leontyne Price. Estes was admitted to Juilliard in to continue his studies.

One year later, he received the bronze medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. In , Estes became the first male African American to sing a major role on the stage at Bayreuth. He sang the title role in Der fliegende Hollander, which he considers his best, and most demanding, role. For a time, he did mostly lieder recitals and opera performances on a more limited basis, and credited that as a primary reason for the warmth and musicality of his voice.

Estes has a big voice with a natural, warm texture. He preformed internationally both on the operatic and concert stages.