Robert Sims, Baritone
"Robert Sims... stunning, dazzling, and sublime."
- Chicago Tribune
Current Public Programs:
“Sims knows how to merge European operatic grandeur with colloquial, all-American delivery. The ardor of his interpretation and plushness of his timbre, as well as his wholly convincing body language, made his performance a high point of the night."
- Chicago Tribune
Robert Sims is an acclaimed lyric baritone renowned for his rich, resonant voice and captivating stage presence. Recognized internationally for his artistry, Sims has earned particular praise for his interpretations of African American spirituals and concert repertoire. He has graced prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and major concert halls across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Sims has collaborated with prominent orchestras and conductors, as well as a variety of chamber ensembles, always bringing a distinctive warmth and clarity to his performances. Of special note is his ongoing project The Majesty of the Spiritual which he performs in conjunction with some of the most celebrated black vocalists of our time.
In addition to his solo work, Sims is an ardent promoter of American song and the spiritual tradition, frequently appearing in recitals and educational programs that celebrate this vital musical heritage. His commitment to outreach and mentorship has inspired emerging artists and fostered a greater appreciation for this repertoire worldwide. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, Northwestern University, and SUNY Binghamton, Sims boasts a diverse musical education that underpins his versatile career.
"Baritone Robert Sims, who made his Carnegie Hall debut in the Judy and Arthur Zankel Hall on Sunday afternoon, has made it his mission to keep alive the African American folk music tradition. As a performer, Sims displayed a warm, beautifully schooled lyric baritone voice, impeccable musicianship, attractive stage presence and fine interpretive skills. He knows how to meet the special stylistic requirements of this material. Sims gave us an afternoon to remember."
- The New York Amsterdam News
Robert Sims Recitals for Baritone and Piano
Available Programs:
Celebrating America: A Tribute through Song and Spirit
When Robert Sims steps onto the stage, America’s story finds its voice anew. “Celebrating America with Robert Sims” is more than a performance; it is a vibrant journey across the heart of a nation. Sims, renowned for his rich baritone and magnetic stage presence, curates a program that weaves together spirituals, Broadway favorites, patriotic classics, and the best of contemporary classical composers-each selection a thread in the nation’s grand tapestry.
With every note, Sims invites the audience to reflect on the triumphs, struggles, and aspirations that define the American spirit. His interpretations breathe life into the works of celebrated composers as well as the anonymous creators of age-old melodies, reminding us that America’s legacy is shaped by many voices.
Through his artistry, Sims transcends boundaries of genre and generation, uniting listeners in a shared experience of hope and belonging. Whether performing “America the Beautiful,” a stirring gospel hymn, or a quietly powerful ballad, he kindles a sense of unity and pride.
"Robert Sims' "Celebrating America" is a tribute not just to a nation, but to its people—diverse in heritage yet bound together by music and the enduring dream of liberty. In Sims’ hands, America’s song continues to soar.
This show can be performed with a pianist or an orchestra.
You’ll Love the Yuletide!
Renowned baritone Robert Sims brings warmth and elegance to the holiday season by blending traditional carols, spirituals, and festive classics. Sims captivates audiences with his rich, expressive voice and heartfelt interpretations. Each performance is marked by his engaging stage presence and deep connection to the music, transporting listeners into a world of yuletide joy and reflection. Performing with piano accompaniment, Sims’s artistry shines, making every song a memorable experience. His Christmas show is more than a concert—it’s a joyous celebration of community, tradition, and the magic that defines the spirit of the holidays. This show can be performed with a pianist or an orchestra.
Chamber Music with Robert Sims
Available Programs:
We The People:
Robert Sims, Baritone with the Ciompi Quartet
"We The People" is a joint concert featuring Robert Sims and the Ciompi Quartet that is rooted in U.S. musical traditions. Drawing its title from the opening words of the Constitution, the program invites us to consider who “the people” have been and who we aspire to be within the ongoing story of the United States. The concert begins with Samuel Barber’s powerful String Quartet, Op. 11, then jumps to Ben Johnston’s inventive quartet built around the hymn Amazing Grace. Music by Florence Price and Charles Ives reflects the evolving voice of American composition. Acclaimed baritone Robert Sims joins the strings for moving repertoire for voice and string quartet, connecting classical repertoire with some of the deepest currents in American musical life. Robert Sims can also perform "We The People" with your resident string quartet.
Cultural Crossroads: Dvořák in America
Cultural Crossroads: Dvořák in America is a live concert experience that explores the Black and Indigenous influences on Dvořák during his years in the United States. The program interweaves original Native American melodies, moving African American spirituals, and Dvořák’s most beloved chamber works, complete with storytelling videos and imagery that create a powerful multimedia experience. With its stellar cast of musicians, Cultural Crossroads serves as a catalyst for audience engagement—entertaining, educating, and inspiring, all sparked by the curiosity of a Czech composer more than a century ago.
"Sims caressed the audience with high notes that seemed to hang endlessly in the air. When Sims wants to wow, all you can do is sit back, stare dumbly and shake your head in disbelief."
- Savannah Morning News
"Sims' voice was wonderfully expressive. It was equally a joy to hear him speak as it was to
hear him sing."
- San Francisco Classical Voice
"Sims' swaggering "A Woman is a Sometime Thing" and jaunty "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin" showed plenty of vocal and interpretive power."
- The Richmond Times
"Baritone Robert Sims made"Ol Man River" his own, no mean feat with this famous showstopper. By devoting close attention to the lyrics, rather than trying to plumb the song's sonorous depths, Sims captured a rippling forward movement."
- San Francisco Chronicle
