Classical pianist, black history maker performs Feb. 19 at ECC
Affectionately labeled "Classical Music's No. 1 Maverick," Jade Simmons is easily one of the most exciting and versatile artists on the scene today, due to her creative fusion of classical music with hip-hop and rap beats. Her multiple talents makes her a true Renaissance woman of the new millennium.
As part of Elgin Community College's Black History Month celebration, Simmons will be performing at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in the Building B Jobe Lounge of the college's Spartan Drive campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
During Black History Month, ECC celebrates American history makers of the past. With Simmons the college is celebrating black history makers of the present and the future. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Simmons completed her undergraduate work in piano performance at Northwestern University, where she co-founded the immensely popular percussion and dance ensemble Boomshaka. Simmons has toured the U.S. extensively in recital and with orchestra, highlighted with performances at venues ranging from Ravinia to the Harlem Gatehouse. She ended 2011, with a holiday performance at the White House and debuted with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra at the Detroit Symphony's Orchestra Hall in February, 2013.
Simmons is a passionate advocate for the arts in education, creating multiple programs used with great success across the country. In 2009, Simmons became the inaugural Spotlight Artist for Music for Autism, an organization committed to creating meaningful, inclusive concert experiences for families living with autism. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, where she studied under acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker. Simmons lives in Houston, Texas, where she teaches a graduate-level course on artist career development in the University of Houston's Program in Arts Leadership.
Simmons has been crowned Miss Chicago, Miss Illinois and was a runner-up in the popular Miss America pageant.