Australian lyric-coloratura soprano Erika Simons

Before taking time out to welcome her son, Erika enjoyed seven years as a Fest member of the ensemble at Theater Osnabrück in Germany. Her time in Osnabrück saw her singing in musicals, operettas, leading Mozart ladies such as Susanna and Pamina, Guercœr by Alberic Magnar - the International Opera Awards’ Rediscovered Work of the year 2019, dramatic heroines the likes of Verdi’s Gilda and Traetta’s Antigona as well as the more playful leading ladies such as Eliza Doolittle, Nannetta, Clivia, Dorinda and Valencienne.

In 2019, Erika completed a tour of the Netherlands spanning over two seasons and visiting over 10 cities in a coproduction between Opera Trionfo and Theater Osnabrück, singing the title role in Traetta’s rarely performed Baroque masterpiece ANTIGONA.

As part of the renowned Kölner Opernstudio, Erika had the opportunity to sing with the Kinderoper Köln as well as a number of roles on the main stage. During her 2 years with the company, Erika appeared in productions of Parsifal, Il Trittico, Die Gezeichneten to name a few, covered larger roles and even jumped-in as Nella in Gianni Schicchi and Blonde in Mozart’s Entführung aus dem Serail.

Erika was lucky enough to be offered a place in the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie which takes place in Neumarkt every year. Here, she performed and recorded with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Orchestra), gave a series of recitals including a Liederabend in Bayreuth and an evening of Gershwin Song accompanied by Craig Terry, Artistic Director of the Chicago Lyric Opera.

Erika is no stranger to the concert stage, appearing as a soloist in a number of gala concerts including the Festival of Beautiful Voices and the Red Cross Galas of the Cologne Opera. From the symphonic world of Mahler’s 4th to Orff’s beloved Carmina Burana, to Haydn’s Creation or Peer Gynt with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Erika also enjoys the more intimate Welt of Lied and Artsong and has given numerous recitals in abroad and at home with the Australian Schubert Society.