MEZZO-SOPRANO JULIE SIMSON TO PERFORM OCT. 30

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Julie Simson will give a solo recital at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, in Chandler Recital Hall of the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. Her recital is part of the F. Ludwig Diehn Concert Series. She also will conduct a master class at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Both the concert and master class are free and open to the public, but seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Among Simson's many performances throughout the United States are appearances with the Houston Opera, Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Memphis and Opera Colorado, performing such roles as Hansel in "Hansel and Gretel," the Composer in "Ariadne auf Naxos" and Suzuki in "Madame Butterfly."

She was awarded a grant to study and perform in Europe where she subsequently won the prestigious Mozart Prize at the International Belvedere Competition in Vienna. Simson was also a finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti International Competition in Philadelphia and the G. B. Dealey National Awards in Dallas.

After winning first prize at the East & West Artists Competition, she made her New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, she was the second-place winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Competition and a finalist in the International Marian Anderson Competition. Simson was recently featured in two concerts at the International George Crumb Festival in Prague, Czech Republic.

Simson holds degrees from Western Michigan University and the University of Illinois and is currently associate professor of voice at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

The Diehn Concert Series was made possible by a grant from the F. Ludwig Diehn Music Fund of The Norfolk Foundation.

For more information call 683-3020.