Simon Estes to perform with Ames Municipal Band

Simon Estes, opera singer, sings at the Durham Bandshell in Bandshell park in Ames on Thursday, June 18, 2009. Photo: Laurel Scott/Iowa State Daily

Laurel Scott

Simon Estes, opera singer, sings at the Durham Bandshell in Bandshell park in Ames on Thursday, June 18, 2009. Photo: Laurel Scott/Iowa State Daily

Trevor Werner

The Ames Municipal Band will perform Thursday, June 21 with a special guest appearance by Simon Estes. The show will begin at 8 p.m. with pre-show entertainment from 7-7:45 p.m.

Estes made his professional debut in Europe as Ramfis in Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1965. He didn’t perform in the United States until 1971 in Chicago with a minor role. He received his doctorate from Iowa State and is listed as the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence there. He is also a distinguished alumnus for the University of Iowa and is listed on the artist faculty of Boston University.

He is currently a professor of music at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and is a professor emeritus at Iowa State.