Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Profile

Bass-baritone opera star Simon Estes has lived his dream of “peace through music” by championing education, health care, and artistic integrity. Along the way, the globally renowned singer has touched lives with his talent, mentorship, and humanitarianism.

Born in Centerville, Iowa, Estes is the grandson of a former enslaved man and the son of a coal miner who valued faith and education. Estes intended to study medicine at the University of Iowa but was drawn to singing. After being denied entry into one choir, Estes became the first Black student accepted into the Old Gold Singers.

Estes’ fascination with opera took him to the Juilliard School before he made his professional debut in 1965 in Berlin. His achievements include breaking barriers in the Soviet Union, Europe, and the United States, and singing for seven U.S. presidents. Estes’ Metropolitan Opera debut in 1982 launched an era of historic performances, and he has appeared at major opera houses and events, including the 1972 Olympic Games, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and United Nations anniversaries.

In the late 1980s, Estes returned to Iowa to begin teaching college-level vocal performance. He coordinated benefit concerts for charitable causes, from local flood relief to malaria prevention. Through his foundations, Estes has raised millions for preventive health and scholarships.

Estes’ dozens of medals and honors include the 1996 Iowa Award—the state’s highest civilian honor—and the 2017 United Nations Foundation Lifetime Impact Award.

Embracing respect and kindness for all as his “north star,” Estes continues to be a dignified voice for educational, artistic, and humanitarian pursuits.