Esther Simkin
 Soprano

When a young Esther Simkin (nee DeLaRosa) began her training with tenor Eddy Ruhl, he predicted that hers would be one of the great soprano voices of the operatic stage. A driven worker and a quick study, in three years Ms. Simkin made her debut singing the role of Micaela in Bizet's Carmen with the Civic Opera of Coral Gables. Singing to a packed house, she unequivocally stole the show with her heartrending performance of Micaela's aria, "Je dis que rien ne me pouvante". A year after that, she starred in the role of Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto,  and the following season as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviatta. She has continued moving and delighting audiences ever since.

Not only is Ms. Simkin's voice known for its range and power (she has often been referred to as "the little lady with the big voice"), it is also known for its warmth and flexibility. Esther Simkin's singing technique is such that she can move from Mozart to Verdi to Puccini to Bellini with ease and grace. In addition, always an admirer of the music of the Broadway stage, Ms. Simkin includes select songs from musical theater whenever possible. Shunning the image of the "inaccessible, temperamental diva", Ms. Simkin charms audiences with her personal warmth, humor and elegance.

Choosing a happy marriage over an itinerant life on the international stage, Ms. Simkin calls South Florida home, where she resides with her husband Gabriel. A successful voice teacher, Ms. Simkin helps train up-and-coming young artists, as well as active professionals. In the last few years, she has taken particular interest in assisting singers who have suffered because of poor technique, helping them to recover and often improve their sound. An active concert artist, she now introduces new audiences to the world of opera and classical singing, giving at least two free concerts per season, open to the general public, at Mishkan David Messianic Congregation in Fort Lauderdale, where she is also cantor and rebbetzin.

What People Say:

"She will be one of the great ones!" - - Eddy Ruhl,
                                                                    Tenor, Voice Teacher Opera Coach
                                                                     New York and Florida

"A great voice in the tradition of Birgit Nilsson and Monserrat Caballe."
                                                               - - Helene Gaines
                                                                    Patroness of the Arts
                                                                    New York and Rhode Island

"Ms. Simkin, you possess one of the great voices of our time. You belong at the Met!"                                                     -- Jerry Holland, Tenor
                                                                    Metropolitan Opera, New York