Giles Simmer 1812 Church Street, Apt. 1, Detroit MI, 48216
Instruments:Voice
Styles:Classical, Kids
Levels:Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Experience:5 years
Rate:$40 / hr
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Personal Statement
My goal, as a teacher, is to help every student be the best possible singer that they can be. Each voice is unique and has it’s own strengths and weaknesses. Starting and building on a solid foundation in vocal technique, breathing, and freedom in the voice is the basis of my teaching style. We can then apply those foundations to any style of music you’d like to learn!
Education / Training
D. Giles Simmer is a lyric soprano based in Detroit, Michigan. She began singing growing up in Atlanta, GA and during her teen years was privileged to sing under such conductors as Paul Salamunovich, Raymond Chenault, James Oliverio and Robert Spano at multiple venues in the metro-Atlanta area. It was as a result of these opportunities that she found her true love and joy in vocal performance.
Simmer earned a B.A. in Music from Hillsdale College where she was a recipient of the Howard Music Scholarship and L.A. Weichselfelder Scholarship, in addition to maintaining an active membership in Sigma Alpha Iota. She currently studies with Dr. Karen Kness at Western Michigan University, where she recently completed her M.M. in Vocal Performance.
Simmer has been recognized as a semi-finalist or winner in several national competitions including the William C. Byrd Competition, the Orpheus National Music Competitions, the Opera Maya Papaya Playa Competition and NATS competitions. She has also performed with Opera Grand Rapids, Arbor Opera Theatre, Comic Opera Guild, and Michigan Opera Theatre.
Simmer currently teaches at Grosse Pointe Music Academy and has been a staff singer at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Detroit since 2009.