JADE SIMMONS
Known for her musical creativity and electrifying stage presence, pianist Jade Simmons is committed to expanding the boundaries of classical music. Though her affinity is for the rhythmic and percussive repertoire of 20th and 21st century composers, Jade offers a diverse mix of repertoire from the classics to the cutting edge. She recently became the first ever New Music, New Places Fellow for the esteemed Concert Artists Guild organization. Under this initiative, she will help to build new audiences and generate interest in concert music by bringing traditional and new works to non-traditional and alternative venues. Notable performances in her career include her performance of the piano works of Tania Leon alongside renowned pianist Ursula Oppens, her debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in a performance of John Corigliano's Piano Concerto, a Chicago debut on the esteemed Ravinia Rising Stars Series, and a critically acclaimed concert kicking off the President's Piano Series as part of the University of Washington's World Series of Music and Dance. Jade has performed as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician and her performances have been broadcast on PBS and National Public Radio affiliates. She has given performances abroad in Barcelona, the Canary Islands, Paris, Greece and Italy. Not only a pianist but a youth advocacy speaker as well, Jade has spoken across the country to great acclaim. She speaks on numerous topics of social concern as founder of the "Where Do You Stand?!" series and has appeared on a variety of radio and television programs where she has spoken on topics ranging from the arts to provocative issues such as youth suicide prevention. In accordance with the release of Revolutionary Rhythm, she has launched the "Live a Revolutionary Life Campaign," a speaking and performance tour aimed at high school students. As an advocate for the arts in education, she has created a presentation entitled "Mozart on the Move" for elementary school students and has conducted outreach programs for the Van Cliburn Foundation and the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. Jade is the founder and director of the Impulse Artist Series which provides an audience for uniquely talented, up and coming pianists. A true renaissance woman of the millennium, Ms. Simmons designs her own concert wear. Winner of numerous awards and scholarships, Jade was Miss Illinois and 1st-runner up at the 2000 Miss America Pageant where she performed Chopin's Etude in C-sharp minor, Op.10, No.4, live and before a television audience of millions. A native of Charleston, South Carolina and a graduate of Rice University's prestigious Shepherd School of Music, she received her Master of Piano Performance degree as a Provost Fellow under the tutelage of concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker.
Releases
- Revolutionary Rhythm
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- Release 3/24/2009
Tracklisting- Russell Pinkston: Telltale
- Hot Topic
- Blissful Ignorance
- Morning After Songs
- Still Spinning
- Picking up the Pieces
- Samuel Barber: Allegro energico
- Allegro vivace e leggero
- Adagio mesto
- Fuga: Allegro con spirito
- John Corgliano: Etude No. 1: For the Left Hand Alone
- Etude No. 2: Legato
- Etude No. 3: Fifths to Thirds
- Etude No. 4: Ornaments
- Etude No. 5: Melody
- Daniel Bernard Roumain: Hip-Hop Study & Etudes in D-Sharp Minor
- Hip-Hop Study & Etude in D-Minor
- Hip-Hop Study & Etude in B-Minor
