Violinist Pamela Simmons has performed throughout the Midwest and trained MYSO musicians as a chamber music and orchestral coach for more than 30 years. Violinists from her studio have won many notable competitions including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Audrey Baird Stars of Tomorrow Auditions, Madison Symphony Orchestra Bolz Young Artist Competition, MSO Bach Double Competition, CMA High School Showcase, Wisconsin Philharmonic Shining Stars, the Madison Symphony Youth Competition, and placed in the semifinals of Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Ms. Simmons’ students have earned leadership positions as Concertmaster and Principal Second Violin in all five MYSO orchestras, and in addition, they have won the concerto competitions for String Orchestra, Sinfonia, Philharmonia, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and the Senior Symphony. Many of her students have continued their studies at institutions such as Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Oberlin Conservatory, UW- Madison, Roosevelt University, and the Colburn School, and have attended programs such as the Interlochen Summer Music Camp, Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival, and Bowdoin International Music Festival.
Ms. Simmons has performed for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Skylight Theater, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Festival City Symphony, Midwest Mozart Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and with Bel Canto, the Florentine Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Broadway touring productions, and with many artists including Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Maureen McGovern, Della Reese, Mannheim Steamroller, and Michael Feinstein.
Ms. Simmons’ teachers and mentors were Dr. Gerald Fischbach, Ralph Evans of the Fine Arts Quartet, Wolfgang Laufer, Patrick Rafferty, and Robert Hanford.