American bass, DeANDRE SIMMONS, is recognized for his velvety voice, incisive musicianship, and captivating stage presence. Hailed as a “class act” by the Los Angeles Times, he has appeared on musical theater, operatic, symphonic, and recital stages in all 50 states and across four continents. Voted “Top Ten San Diego Theatre Shows of 2024’ by The San Diego Union-Tribune, DeAndre’s most recent portrayal of SWEENEY in Sondheim’s masterpiece Sweeney Todd with San Diego Musical Theatre garnered tremendous accolades. 

In 2026, with the Greenville Symphony, DeAndre Simmons (as PORGY) joins soprano Laquita Mitchell to star in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. This, following DeAndre’s 2025 debut and role interpretation of the COUNT in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with the symphony. 

In 2025, DeAndre is bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with Modesto Symphony, and in Beethoven’s 9th symphony with Escondido Pacific Choral. In a self-curated recital, Mr. Simmons also presents “The Negro Speaks of Rivers; Spirituals, Songs, and Arias by Black Composers” for Opera in the Park Portland following his portrayal of AMONASRO in Verdi’s Aida in 2024 with the company.

Returning with San Diego Opera in 2025, DeAndre appears as MARCHESE D’OBIGNY in Verdi’s La Traviata and FIRST SOLDIER in R. Strauss’ Salome, following appearances as SCIARRONE and BONZE in Puccini’s Tosca (2023) and Madama Butterfly (2024). Other notable opera houses he has appeared with include Opera Philadelphia as ALIDORO in Cenerentola and CARBON in Cyrano, and with Canada’s Pacific Opera Victoria (Canada) as CAL in Regina.

In concert, DeAndre has appeared with the The Philly Pops (2021), Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl conducted by Bramwell Tovey (INQUISITOR in Candide), the Castleton Festival under Lorin Maazel, Santa Barbara Symphony conducted by Nil Kabaretti (soloist, Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Ninth symphony), Columbia Pro Cantare, and with the United Kingdom’s Southbank Sinfonia (soloist, Haydn’s The Creation).

Career highlights include performing Mozart's Requiem in the presence of Pope John Paul II, being one of only 10 musicians invited to participate in a concert for Nelson Mandela, and singing for seven US Presidents—from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama.

An alumnus of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, DeAndre is a pupil of Fred Carama and protégé of James Morris and Barbara Cook.