Dr. Erica Vernice Simmons, lyric soprano, is an Adjunct Professor of Voice and Lecturer at Tarrant County College Northeast Campus. She recently earned her doctoral degree from the University of North Texas. Most recently, Professor Simmons presented a Black Heritage Recital featuring classical compositions by black composers at the Texoma Artist Series Conference for the National Association of the Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Professor Simmons has performed as a soloist in a virtual concert of His Light Still Shines and in the Porgy and Bess opera with Fort Worth Opera. She was a first place winner in the Memphis Beethoven Club 2017 Young Artists Competition and a competition winner in the 2016 Mid-South Regional NATS competition. She has attended the CCM Spoleto Festival in Spoleto, Italy and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. She’s been featured as a soloist with the Memphis Symphony Chorus. Past roles include the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mrs. Peachum (The Beggar’s Opera), Suzel (L’amico Fritz), and the title role, Josephine Baker (Josephine) in a newly composed opera by renown composer Tom Cipullo.