Biography

A native of Newfoundland, mezzo-soprano Michelle Simmons is a graduate of the Master of Music Vocal Performance program at the University of Toronto, where she studied with soprano Lorna MacDonald and where she was the recipient of the Greta Kraus Graduate fellowship. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree (Honours) from Memorial University in 2002.

Since relocating to Toronto, Michelle has sung in the choruses of Toronto Operetta Theatre and Opera in Concert. She made her Toronto stage debut in the role of Soeur Mathilde in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites. Other opera roles include Sesto in Handel’s Julius Caesar, Lisetta in Haydn’s Voyage to the Moon, and Third Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute. During the summer of 2010, Michelle performed the role of Minerva in Offenbach’s Orphee aux Enfers in the south of France. She recently toured southern Ontario bringing contemporary opera to several towns and cities with the Bicycle Opera Project.

Michelle is a regular recitalist, having performed concert work for the Alliance Française de Toronto, and at the Heliconian, Aeolian and Walter Halls. She frequently performs in benefit concerts for University Settlement. Her most memorable performance to date was in the avant-garde work Allegory for a Rock Opera, presented by artist Derek Liddington as part of Nuit Blanche Toronto 2010.

In addition to her work at University Settlement, Michelle is currently the alto soloist at Bloor Street United Church.