Des Moines Area Community College is pleased to announce that renowned bass-baritone, Dr. Simon Estes, will be a visiting professor of music at the Ankeny campus beginning in the fall of 2016. Dr. Estes has performed with 115 orchestras under 90 of the world’s greatest conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Erich Leinsdorf and Eugen Ormandy. “We are extremely honored to have a professional of this caliber work with our students,” said DMACC President, Rob Denson. “Sharing of his world-wide experiences through lectures, performances and voice lessons will offer a priceless opportunity to our students to learn from one of the world’s greatest opera stars.” Dr. Estes serves as a visiting professor at Iowa State University and has served as a faculty member at the Julliard School of Music, Boston University and Wartburg College. “I believe in what DMACC is doing to support and help all students achieve their dreams,” Estes said. “I have been blessed in so many ways and have benefitted from the advice and encouragement of many others. Helping students enriches my life.” Dr. Estes, who grew up in Centerville, sang in his church choir and with the Old Gold Singers while attending the University of Iowa. He earned a scholarship to the prestigious Julliard School of Music in New York City and he still performs all over the world. He will be judging an international opera competition in Moscow in June and will perform in Zurich in September as well as participating in a number of other performances across the U.S. in the next several months.
