Soprano Annie Simon is a native of Washington, DC, where she started her performance career early as a child actress in professional musical theater and plays, including the Kennedy Center's production of "Sunday in the Park with George" during the 2002 Sondheim Festival. Annie developed a love of early music as a professional chorister in the Washington National Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls between 2000 and 2004. Highlights of her tenure as a cathedral chorister include singing in the National Prayer Service two days after the 911 attacks and the nationally televised funeral service for President Reagan. The choir also premiered and recorded Ståle Kleiberg's Requiem for Victims of Nazi Persecution.
Annie completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California's acclaimed Thornton School of Music, studying under Elizabeth Hynes. Graduating in 2011, Annie received the Vocal Arts Departmental Honor. Annie then completed her Master's Degree at the New England Conservatory, studying with Karen Holvik. At NEC, she sang the role of Adele in Johann Strauss' "Die Fledermaus," conducted by Stephen Lord. Additionally, Annie sang the role of Anna Gomez in a Jordan Hall concert performance of Menotti's "The Medium," conducted by Gil Rose. Committed to arts education, Annie also performed in outreach opera productions in Boston Public Schools.
In the summer seasons, Annie has sung and studied with Oberlin in Italy, Aspen Music School and Festival, and SongFest, where she performed in masterclasses with Graham Johnson, Libby Larsen, and Jake Heggie. At SongFest, Annie was selected to perform in a special Schubert concert curated by Graham Johnson. Additional SongFest performances included the premier of Maria Newman's "Unitas" in a recital of Los Angeles composers. Annie also sang a performance of Ned Rorem's "Bedlam" in a recital of Elizabeth Bishop text settings with narration by former poet laureate (and pupil of Elizabeth Bishop) Dana Gioia. During the 2015 summer, Annie sang the role of Erato in Handel’s Il pastor fido with the Amherst Early Music Festival.
While in Boston, Annie sang regularly with the all-professional choir at the Church of the Advent in historic Beacon Hill, the Handel + Haydn Society, and Cappella Clausura. The Boston Globe recently noted that Annie "sparkled" in her performance of "Wie lieblich klingt es in den Ohren" from Bach's Christmas Cantata.
Annie is now based in Washington, DC.
View and download Annie's resume, biography, and headshot here.