Jan Simons
Encyclopedia
Jan Simons was a Canadian baritone
, and music teacher and administrator. Complementing a vocal performance career in Canada in the 1950s and 60s, he was a member of the faculty of music at McGill University
in Montreal
and a long-time teacher and general director at the summer musical camp, CAMMAC
.
, Simons studied voice with Emilio de Gogorza
in New York, Emmy Heim and Ernesto Vinci in Toronto, and Yvonne Rodd-Marling in London.
, set to music of Mahler's Kindertotenlieder
, the Stratford Festival's first concert, and performances with the Montreal Bach Choir. He was also a founding member of what later became the Elmer Iseler Singers
. He performed frequently with pianist Michael McMahon and on occasion with Gerald Moore
, Glenn Gould
and even Oscar Peterson
.
at McGill University from 1961 to 1993, continuing to teach song interpretation as well as vocal technique privately until his death. He also taught for periods of time at Montreal's Marianopolis College
and Vanier College
. Notable students who went on to vocal careers of their own include Stephanie Marshall, Matthew White
, Olivier Laquerre, Michiel Schrey, and Daniel Taylor
.
Simons also regularly taught amateurs, both privately, but especially at the summer music camp of Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens Amateurs du Canada (CAMMAC), where he was on the faculty for over 50 years. He was director general for 30 years, long-time artistic advisor, and oversaw the yearly advanced voice studies programme as well as regular vocal training and song interpretation classes.
At various times, Simons was involved as an administrator or musical jury member for the Quebec Competitive Music Festival, the Juno Awards, the Quebec Opus Prize, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Voice Competition. Simons received the Opus Prix Hommage from the Conseil Québécois de la musique in 2005.
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, and music teacher and administrator. Complementing a vocal performance career in Canada in the 1950s and 60s, he was a member of the faculty of music at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and a long-time teacher and general director at the summer musical camp, CAMMAC
Cammac
Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens Amateurs du Canada is a nonprofit organization supporting amateur music making at all ages and levels. It is commonly known by its acronym, CAMMAC....
.
Vocal studies
After emigrating from his native GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Simons studied voice with Emilio de Gogorza
Emilio de Gogorza
Emilio Eduardo de Gogorza was an American baritone of Spanish parentage.He was born in Brooklyn, New York, but brought up and trained musically in Spain. He returned to the USA in his early 20s. He sang in many languages, including French, Italian and English, as well as Spanish...
in New York, Emmy Heim and Ernesto Vinci in Toronto, and Yvonne Rodd-Marling in London.
Performer
Simons specialized in lieder as well as oratorio, with live, radio, and televised performances in Canada, Europe, and Japan. His solo performances include the 1956 Canadian premiere of the ballet Dark Elegies by the National Ballet of CanadaNational Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
, set to music of Mahler's Kindertotenlieder
Kindertotenlieder
Kindertotenlieder is a song cycle for voice and orchestra by Gustav Mahler...
, the Stratford Festival's first concert, and performances with the Montreal Bach Choir. He was also a founding member of what later became the Elmer Iseler Singers
Elmer Iseler Singers
The Elmer Iseler Singers is a professional chamber choir based in Toronto, Canada.The twenty-voice choir, conducted by Artistic Director Lydia Adams], founded by Dr. Elmer Iseler in 1979, is one of Canada’s leading choral ensembles. The choir has built an international reputation through its...
. He performed frequently with pianist Michael McMahon and on occasion with Gerald Moore
Gerald Moore
Gerald Moore CBE was an English pianist best known for his career as one of the most in-demand accompanists of his day, accompanying many of the world's most famous musicians...
, Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
and even Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
.
Teacher
Simons taught voice in the Faculty of MusicSchulich School of Music
The Schulich School of Music is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University in Montréal, Canada. The faculty was named after benefactor Seymour Schulich.-History:Music at McGill – The Beginning...
at McGill University from 1961 to 1993, continuing to teach song interpretation as well as vocal technique privately until his death. He also taught for periods of time at Montreal's Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College is a private, subsidized CEGEP in Montreal nestled against the side of Mount Royal in Westmount, Quebec, Canada. It is one of the smallest anglophone colleges, with a student body of fewer than 2,000...
and Vanier College
Vanier College
Vanier College is an English-language public college located in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1970 as the second English-language public college of Quebec's public college system...
. Notable students who went on to vocal careers of their own include Stephanie Marshall, Matthew White
Matthew White (countertenor)
Matthew White is a Canadian countertenor.-Career:Matthew White graduated in English Literature from McGill University...
, Olivier Laquerre, Michiel Schrey, and Daniel Taylor
Daniel Taylor (countertenor)
Daniel Taylor is a Canadian countertenor and early music specialist. He completed his undergraduate studies in English, philosophy, and music at the the Faculty of Music of McGill University and his graduate work in religion and music at the Université de Montréal...
.
Simons also regularly taught amateurs, both privately, but especially at the summer music camp of Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens Amateurs du Canada (CAMMAC), where he was on the faculty for over 50 years. He was director general for 30 years, long-time artistic advisor, and oversaw the yearly advanced voice studies programme as well as regular vocal training and song interpretation classes.
At various times, Simons was involved as an administrator or musical jury member for the Quebec Competitive Music Festival, the Juno Awards, the Quebec Opus Prize, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Voice Competition. Simons received the Opus Prix Hommage from the Conseil Québécois de la musique in 2005.