Founders

Co-founder, brother Victor Simonson, Musical Director, Pianist, Composer, and multi-genre performer, is the first Black Conductor for the Broadway show “Hamilton” and is on tour with the “MJ The Musical.” Victor has traveled with Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple,” “Memphis the Musical,” and “The Lion King,” served as Music Director for Three Mo’ Tenors, Interim Conductor for the Boys Choir of Harlem, and is hailed as the youngest Black Music Director for a Broadway-bound show for his work in “Brooklyn the Musical.” Victor has worked on musical teams for “Wicked,” “Ragtime,” and “The Wiz,” served as a rehearsal pianist for National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and composed “Stomping Grounds” Hip Opera which premiered at the Glimmerglass Music Festival. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. 

Co-founder, sister Pamela Simonson, Soprano, Actress, and Teacher has been seen in performances with the San Francisco Opera, Lyric Chicago Opera, and the Washington National Opera in productions including “Cosi’ fan Tutte,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Tosca” and more, as well as on stages for national and international audiences. 

Pamela serves as Director for the CAAPA Camp, produces performances, and teaches music to students from K-8 grade. She is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music with her Undergraduate degree and the Manhattan School of Music with her Graduate degree. 

As a team, the siblings have performed throughout the eastern seaboard and have been hailed as the “Only African American Brother-Sister Classical Vocal Duet in the United States.” 

One of CAAPA’s founding members also includes The Simonson’s mother, art lover, and advocate Terri Allen. Mrs. Allen is not a trained musician but helps “Bring Color to the Classics” by supporting the arts in a variety of ways including developing programs, partnering, and providing performance opportunities for African American classical musicians. She currently serves as CAAPA’s Executive Director.