Calvin Simmons Story

The Calvin Simmons Theatre was named after Calvin Simmons, the first African-American conductor of a major orchestra. Calvin was a San Francisco native and the musical director of the Oakland Symphony from 1978 until his tragic passing in 1982 – at only 32 years of age. In his short career, Simmons worked for the San Francisco Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ojai Music Festival, the Metropolitan Opera, and Glyndebourne Touring Opera, among others.