David Simmons
An honors graduate of the University of Montana School of Music, David’s diverse career as an educator, presenter, actor, musician, songwriter, playwright, composer, producer, recording artist and mental health advocate has taken him to all 50 states, 14 countries and 3 continents. He has served as Education Director for the Arizona Broadway Theater (Phoenix, AZ), Desert Foothills Theater (Cave Creek, AZ) And Fort Peck Fine Arts Council (Glasgow, MT). As an educator, masterclass instructor and teaching artist he has worked with The University of Montana School of Music, Estrella Mountain Community College Fine Arts Department, Casper College Drama Department, Child’s Play Theater, the Missoula Children’s Theater, Steppingstone Theater for Youth Development, The Montana Arts Council, The Wyoming Council on the Arts, St. Paul/Minneapolis Public Schools and Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers. David currently serves as Founder, Executive Director and Teaching Artist for The UBU Project whose mission statement is: To end youth suicide, addiction and bullying through (social/emotional) arts integration. In addition to his professional training and experience David is a thriving survivor of his own suicide attempts, a recovering alcoholic with 27 years sober and he was the fat kid who got bullied in school. He also lives with the managed mental illness diagnoses of PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder Recurrent, Free Floating Anxiety and boarder-line OCD/ADD. Whether in a classroom, online platform, conference center, classical concert hall, coffee house, stadium, rock and roll club, worship space or on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, David brings a wealth of experience, energy and encouragement to every stage, school, or project he encounters. David has one adult son, Niko (a budding opera singer in Minnesota), and makes his home in the Phoenix West Valley
