Artist Profiles

Julie Simson, Mezzo-Soprano

Julie Simson, Mezzo-Soprano

Julie Simson, Mezzo-Soprano, has sung with opera companies throughout the United States including Houston Opera, Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Memphis, and Opera Colorado performing such roles as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. She has also performed as soloist in major oratorio works with the Denver, Colorado Springs, Cedar Rapids, Omaha and Milwaukee Symphonies and in Boulder at the MahlerFest and Bach Festival. Miss Simson was the recipient of a grant to study and perform in Europe where she subsequently won the prestigious Mozart Prize at the International Belvedere Competition in Vienna.

After winning first prize at the East & West Artists International Competition, she made her New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall. She was the 2nd place winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Competition and a finalist in the International Marian Anderson Competition. Miss Simson has been featured in concerts at the International George Crumb Festival in Prague Czech Republic, and in recital and masterclasses at the Hochschule für Musik Hans Eilser in Berlin Germany, as well as Sao Paulo Brazil.

Her recordings include Mahler's 8th Symphony with the Colorado MahlerFest and Horatio Parkers' Hora Novissima on the Albany label, and an American Art Song CD on the songs of Richard Faith. She was last heard with the Colorado MahlerFest in the performance of Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Symphony No. 4. Miss Simson holds degrees from Western Michigan University and the University of Illinois. She is currently chair of the Voice Area, the recipient of the Berton Coffin Faculty Fellowship and Associate Professor of Voice at the University of Colorado-Boulder.